Close Your Eyes by Rachel Abbott

 

Don’t let him under your skin. He’ll destroy you.

Don’t fight him. He’ll win.

Run. Never let him find you.

I thought I was safe here, but I’m not. I’ve stayed too long. Now Genevieve is dead, and the police are on their way. It’s time for me to go.

I must stick to the plan – the one I made the day I arrived in this city. My bag is packed. It always is. I will destroy every shred of evidence of my existence. The police must never find me. If they do, so will he. 

I made a mistake, and someone had to die. But I’m the one who has truly lost her life.

I need to make a choice. If I keep running, I’ll never stop. If I go back, he will make me suffer. 

How many lives can one person ruin?

Welcome to the Blogtour for Rachel Abbott's 'Close Your Eyes'. 

Close Your Eyes is the latest in the series of crime thrillers featuring DCI Tom Douglas and his team, able to be read as a stand-alone but better read as part of a series if only because to miss any of these books is to miss out on a cracking read (and yeah, probably a few hours sleep a night as the pages keep turning)

Starting, as these things do, with a murder (Genevieve Strachan in this case) the story soon gets as twisty as you would expect of Abbott when a person of interest/possible suspect (Martha) goes on the run and the case hits an apparent brick wall. Obviously with the right amount of digging and investigation the team soon have things back on track but will they be on time? Is it too late for Martha? 

For the large part of the book Martha is the main protagonist in the story with Douglas and co. more or less bit players but that works well with the mystery. There is a strong thread of coercion and manipulation running through Martha's tale and it is not a comfy read but you don't read novel's like this to be comfy do you? 

As is often the case with books in a series like this part of the enjoyment for me is the developing background story of the main players (Tom, Becky etc) and that can offset the bleakness of Martha's story so giving a good balance. 

Highly recommended 

4.2/5*

Thanks as always to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the tour for Close Your Eyes and to the publisher for providing the review copy. 

Please have a look at the posts by the other reviewers on the tour (below) 

Deity by Matt Wesolowki

 

A shamed pop star
A devastating fire
Six witnesses
Six stories
Which one is true?

Welcome to my spot on the Blogtour for the latest in Matt Wesolowki's Six Stories series. The series in itself has online journalist Scott King investigating subjects over the course of six podcasts where a different person tells their side of the story each week. 

Deity, book 5 in the series, investigates the story of the death of rock megastar and recluse Zach Crystal in a fire at his reclusive retreat in the Cairngorms and the controversy that dogged him in later life. 

Some people saw him as a rock legend, some as a predatory paedophile (among other things) and King's podcast is their chance to have their say while he tries to get to the bottom of what is true and what is speculation, was the fire that killed King accidental or murder? 

I'll be honest, this was a very dark and at times uncomfortable read. In an age where several of the 'heroes and icons' of our youth are being torn from their pedestals and exposed for what they really are it hits very close to home. That said, it was a captivating read and I will certainly be picking up the rest of the series (I believe they read as stand-alone, Deity certainly did) 

Recommended 4/5*

Dragon Mage by ML Spencer -early thoughts

 

 I usually save my thoughts on a book until I have finished but Dragon Mage is soooooo special I feel I have to say something now. 

 What has really got me excited about this book is the author's ability to paint pictures with words. I am lucky (I think) in that my imagination is such that I read in 3D Cinemascope with surround sound (meaning the book comes alive in my mind's eye) but the list of author's who take it to this level is a select one. It's the author's ability to take you into the story to such an extent that you (well, me anyway) feel that you are actually there.

 I have just read a section where the lead character meets a dragon to possibly fly it for the first time and the interaction between the two is so charged with electricity, passion, feeling - call it what you will it is an amazing piece of writing.

 To say Dragon Mage is stunning is no understatement 

 Full review will appear on here when I've finished the book but I already know this is a bookworld I will not want to leave. 

The Last Snow by Stina Jackson

 

 In a semi-derelict hovel in the Swedish woodlands near Ödesmark a woman, Luv, lives with her crochety (and that's being polite) father and her illegitimate son. It's possible that, despite appearances, they are sitting on a fortune and although she could have fled this horrible life she still stays. This is her story. 

 Told in a mix of flashbacks and the present time (and also, quite a lot of 'inner dialogue') it took me a while to get going with this story but when things started to flow it really picked up. 

   The possible fortune, alluded to above, if it exists, belongs to Vidar, the father, which I guess explains why Liv does not leave. The thing with fortunes though is that other people want some too and someone is coming for Vidar and his . . . 

  I must admit I do like Scandi-Noir so this ticked a lot of boxes for me but where it excelled was the description of the scenery - good enough to almost make you think you were there. This more than made up for the early lull in pace. Also, the ending caught me out after I'd been flip flopping between how I thought things would work out (and getting it totally wrong). 

 Recommended 4/5*

 

Thanks as always to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the tour and please, if you can, have a look at the reviews by the other bloggers on this tour

NEW INITIATIVE TO COMBAT LONELINESS THROUGH THE PROVEN POWER OF READING

 READ, TALK, SHARE

The Reading Agency launch new campaign to combat loneliness and promote wellbeing through the proven power of reading

 

London, 3 February 2021: Leading national charity The Reading Agency is proud to announce their new campaign Read, Talk, Share, an initiative to combat loneliness and promote wellbeing through the proven power of reading during the Covid-19 pandemic this winter.

Enabled by a £3.5 million award by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), Read, Talk, Share will expand The Reading Agency’s already successful Reading Well and Reading Friends programmes, with the charity’s work to tackle loneliness and support mental health and wellbeing playing an important part in the nation’s Covid recovery. The two initiatives demonstrate the power of reading to support and connect isolated individuals, and the benefits of bibliotherapy to mental health. The DCMS funding presents an unprecedented level of investment in library services to tackle loneliness and support mental health, and The Reading Agency will work closely with local libraries and organisations to reach communities through reading, talking, and sharing.

 

Reading Well supports people in their journey towards better mental health by making helpful books recommended by health experts easily accessible to readers of all ages. The Reading Agency is working closely with every library service across England to provide unprecedented access to the carefully designed reading lists: Reading Well for mental health; Reading Well for young people; and Reading Well for children. Topics explored include mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy; coping with grief, anxiety, depression, and stress; understanding bullies, body dysmorphia, ADHD, autism, and OCD; and much more. Books from each list will be available for a mixture of both click-and-collect and e-lending at each English library authority later this month.

●        90% of Reading Well users said they found their book helpful for understanding and managing their conditions.

●        89% of responding health practitioners agreed that it helped to support people outside of consultation time.

 

Reading Friends brings people together to read, share stories, meet new friends, and have fun, tackling the big life-challenge of social isolation. Through the funding grant from DCMS, The Reading Agency will be able to provide funding, training and resources for 75 library authorities in England to deliver Reading Friends to a broad range of audiences, using socially distanced and telephone/video call befriending models. The programme is delivered by volunteers and co-produced with its participants to ensure it meets each person’s needs and matches their interests, in groups and one-to-one sessions.

●        After taking part, 83% of participants and 95% of volunteers reported feeling more connected to other people.

●        An evaluation of a pilot telephone reading befriending service run in Staffordshire during the first lockdown generated similar findings; most participant respondents agreed/strongly agreed that the project had helped them to feel more connected to other people.

 

Karen Napier, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: “Tackling loneliness and supporting mental health and wellbeing across the country has always been a priority for The Reading Agency. The ongoing Covid-19 crisis' impact on the country’s mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing cannot be underestimated, and our Reading Well and Reading Friends programmes are perfectly placed to assist the nation in recovery. Our mission remains to help people tackle life’s challenges through the proven power of reading, and to bring people together, ease our burdens, and foster wellbeing and understanding. We are immensely grateful to DCMS for their support - this feels like a real

vote of continued confidence in the role of public libraries and their important contribution to

society.”

 

Baroness Barran, Minister for Loneliness said: “The start of this year continues to be as difficult as the last for the whole nation, with many people not being able to see the people who mean the most to them. Tackling loneliness remains a priority for the government and I’m thrilled to see how organisations, like The Reading Agency, have adapted to this new world we’re living in, doing incredible work in their local communities to ensure no one feels isolated.”

 

Caroline Dinenage, Minister for Libraries said: “Libraries are often the heart and soul of local communities and a real lifeline to so many people who may feel lonely or isolated. With another tough few months ahead of us, I am thrilled that the funding we have allocated will help The Reading Agency continue to deliver its invaluable work - with a particular focus on ensuring that people of all ages are prioritising their mental health.”

 

Follow the latest developments on social media: @ReadingAgency

#ReadTalkShare #LetsTalkLoneliness

Witness by Simon Maltman

 

 Pastor Tom is not your average priest. With problems at home and at work, issues with alcohol and a background with links to the paramilitary it's fair to say this Irishman's life is in a mess. Making connections with his past probably isn't his best idea (and trust me, he seems to have plenty of bad ideas) and 'Witness' charts his downward spiral as he desperately tries to do the right thing to save those that mean most to him.

 I'll be honest, I had some problems with this book - mainly with the character of Pastor Tom. He is not a particularly likeable chap and I really did not engage with him. Making bad decision after bad decision I felt like reaching into the pages and giving him a good shake. I didn't overly care about him and I feel I like to have some resonance with lead characters.

 On the plus side the supporting cast were a lot more fun even if they did often come across as a bit stereotypical Irish at times.

 As a general rule I enjoy Simon Maltman's books but Witness really didn't do much for me.

 Plenty of action but a lead I didn't care for so 2.5/5* (not great but not terrible)

Beneath The Crimson Willow by Martin Niewood - an excerpt

On Friday I was asked if I would like to post an excerpt from Beneath The Crimson Willow by Martin Niewood, so I had a peep at the description on Amazon and, I must say, it certainly piqued my interest... 

Life on the run has been hard for Violet Noone and her family, and it's about to get harder. While pursued by the authorities and the Marked, a secret organization focused on revenge, Violet is approached by a mysterious stranger. She is blackmailed into solving the brutal murder of Georgina Givens, a victim of the poisonous compound, Unelse. The investigation reveals that religious, political, and corporate forces might be at play, although Violet can't rule out the possibility that Georgina's husband, Leonard, may be the murderer.
Georgina and her husband were no strangers to criminal schemes and Violet quickly uncovers the connection between the theft of valuable intelligence and Georgina's death. Pursuing each lead, Violet slips deeper into a world of conspiracy and lies and learns she can trust no one. Beset by their own demons, her family is unable to support her, forcing a seventeen-year-old Violet to accept unwelcomed truths about herself and face challenges well beyond her years.
This time, Violet is on her own. With her enemies closing in, she must unravel the mystery, retrieve the intelligence, and solve the murder. But can she do it before the Marked find her?

 So here for you now is said except;

An excerpt from Beneath the Crimson Willow

by Martin Niewood

Although outwardly ordinary, this house was filled with secrets. The mounted security cameras around the property were concealed in such a way that casual observers might not spot them. A thick layer of decaying leaves covered the ground, and the surrounding trees isolated the home from others in the neighborhood. Stepping over a metal hose, as we made our way to the back of the property, I followed Leonard’s movements carefully, recalling his previous disclosures about various snares. I spotted a small but explosive anti-personnel mine intended to deter intruders as we passed through the gate. 

Reaching the back door, Leonard swiped his band. Generally, a single swipe would allow access to one’s private residence, but Leonard and Georgina had installed a secondary security system involving an alpha-numeric code and an electronic keypad. Leonard tapped the buttons and the door clicked open. Turning the knob, we stood in a large but unimpressive kitchen. From our vantage point we could see most of the first floor. The kitchen led into a dining room and a small entry hall for the front door. Immediately to the left of the hall, was the living room and behind it a single bedroom and bath. Leonard and Georgina were either not good at their chosen profession or they hid their money elsewhere. One thing was certain, their ill-gotten gains were not spent on their home.

From the discolored ceiling, cracked windowpanes, and splintered floorboards, the home appeared to have suffered from years of neglect. Looking around at the kitchen sink overflowing with dirty dishes and unwashed laundry strewn around the floor, I suspected that after Georgina’s death, things went from bad to worse. The place was an absolute disaster. 

It was apparent that something had occurred in the small entry hall. Furniture had been knocked over, and broken picture frames, umbrellas, and various pairs of shoes and boots cluttered the floor. Glass from a broken mirror, coated with dried blood, crunched underfoot. There was a smear of blood on the baseboard and a splatter of some dark red secretion across the ceiling. The black, tarry slime that had poured out of Georgina’s eyes and ears had seeped into the floor and lay trapped between the uneven boards. It was obvious that Leonard had tried to wipe some of it up, but the slime had hardened and was now embedded in the grain of the wood.

Leonard caught me staring at the hallway. “Difficult to look at, isn’t it? My first thought was to clean it up and act as though none of this had ever happened, but I was too depressed to do anything.” Leonard stared down at the floor. “I couldn’t just leave her there, so I buried her body out back in the woods. It was one of the most difficult things I ever had to do.”

I heard the sadness in his voice whenever he mentioned Georgina. “I’m assuming this is where you found her? In the hall?” I walked over to the spot with the most dried blood and slime. “When you found her, how was she positioned?”

Leonard cleared his throat. “What does that have to do with anything?”

I leaned down to the ground, imagining the events before her murder. “I’m trying to get a sense of what happened. Can you walk me through everything you know about the night she was killed?”

Rubbing his chin, Leonard replied, “I had gone out for about an hour. I had a meeting downtown.”

“Who did you meet with?”

“That’s none of your business, and it has nothing to do with this.” Leonard stormed off, presumably annoyed by my question, but then returned as though nothing had happened. “I don’t get it. There’s no sign of forced entry and except for here, there’s no blood anywhere else in the house.” He stood there looking through the front window, scratching his thinning hair. “You see, one of the traps was set off, a nasty one at that. The intruder would have been injured and bled profusely, but there’s almost no blood inside the house. If the murderer was that injured, how did he clean up his blood before I’d returned? That would have required a team, but it’s clear that there was only one person because, as you can see, there was an intense struggle before she ingested the poison. I believe that multiple assailants would have tied her up and controlled her with ease.”

Pressing my fingers against my lips, “Okay, so we’re dealing with a single person that is most likely injured. They somehow get into the house without forcing the lock, then creep up behind Georgina when she is making her way to the kitchen. Why then? Is it safe to assume that she might have heard… Wait, what about the Caldwell cameras outside? They’re pretty high end, military grade—didn’t they catch anything?”

Leonard rolled his eyes. “Cameras were wiped clean. The only evidence I found was blood on one of the spike traps outside. I took a sample and sent it to one of my connections in the Foxglove police department to see if anything came up on their database. So far, there aren’t any matches to any known offenders.”

“You wouldn’t happen to keep any first aid stuff in your kitchen, would you?” 

“Yeah, why?” 

“I might be completely off, but what if Georgina knew her murderer? You said that neither the front nor back door was forced.”

“That’s right.”

“And the gate?”

“Locked,” Leonard responded.

“And all of the windows?”

“Nailed shut, so what?” 

“So, we know that the intruder set off a trap outside. Georgina surely would have heard the commotion and seen the intruder on your security cameras. Suppose she recognizes him or her and rushes to the front door to help them. Georgina brings the injured intruder into the hall and heads for the kitchen to get the first aid kit. As she turns toward the kitchen, the killer strikes, forcing the poison into Georgina’s mouth. She resists, causing the two to struggle, knocking down furniture, breaking items in the hall. After a few moments, the poison overtakes Georgina, who convulses in pain and dies, lying in a fetal position on her side.”

As I spoke, Leonard stared silently at the stained floor. 

So, what do you think? I'll certainly be reading this. Will you?