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How to Solve a Murder: True Stories from a Life in Forensic Medicine by Derek and Pauline Tremain #NetGalley

How to Solve a Murder: True Stories from a Life in Forensic Medicine.

by Derek Tremain 

How To Solve a Murder is an easy to read (for the most part), fascinating insight into the lives of forensic scientists as told by now husband and wife team, Derek, and Pauline Tremain. Both experts in their field they each tell stories from when their careers began and how they developed over the years. With often gruesome detail we learn about certain specimens they have collected and stored over the years. They share the techniques they have used as well as those they have developed themselves, making it easier for police to convict the guilty of their heinous crimes.

We also learn a little about them both personally and how their relationship developed from purely professional to eventual marriage.

There is no doubt they have had and continue to have a successful career, one they both seem to thrive on and excel in.

My only criticism would be that throughout the whole book it was difficult to distinguish which one of them was ‘talking’ at any one time, unless they mentioned the other at some point. This did make it confusing at times.

Still, an interesting read for anyone even remotely interested in forensic science.

** Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley **

FRACTURED SKULLS. GAS MASKS. BRAIN BUCKETS. VATS OF ACID. PICKLED BODY PARTS.

Not the usual tools of trade, but for Chief Forensic Medical Scientist Derek and Forensic Secretary Pauline they were just part of a normal day in the office inside the world-famous Department of Forensic Medicine at Guy’s Hospital in London.

Derek has played a pivotal role in investigating some of the UK’s most high-profile mass disasters and murder cases. Derek’s innovative work on murder cases, in particular, has seen him credited as a pioneer of forensic medical science, after developing ground-breaking techniques that make it easier to secure a conviction and also identify a serial killer.

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We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker @WhittyAuthor

We Begin at the End

by Chris Whitaker

We Begin at the End grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I wish I could have read it cover to cover in one sitting. It’s one of those books I thought about often when I wasn’t reading it. It’s a heart-breaking story really. Duchess is a fascinating character. She has a foul mouth, is disrespectful of authority, and pretty much seems to hate the world and everyone in it, but she has dealt with a lot in her 13 years already so it’s kind of understandable and I couldn’t help but like her. She does her best to look after her younger brother Robin, as their mother has her struggles. She doesn’t always make the wisest decisions though and she very much ends up paying a high price for her mistakes. My heart truly went out to her towards to the end.

Local police officer, Walk, does his best to look out for the family. I really liked him. I liked his loyalty to Vincent even when the rest of the town was against him.

Vincent is an intriguing character. I didn’t know what to make of him at first. We don’t hear much from him really considering he is a central character, so it was hard to form an opinion of him.

I loved the children’s Granddad. I love how he seemed to just get Duchess and give her the space she needed despite her rudeness and apparent lack of appreciation considering she had never known the full story behind his relationship with their mother. I love how their relationship slowly developed and was devastated by what happened and what was to follow.

I had no idea which direction this story would go in, and I couldn’t wait to find out.

By the end I had experienced all the emotions.

It’s so brilliantly written. I highly recommend it to all.

We Begin at the End is the first book I’ve read by Chris Whitaker. I sincerely hope it won’t be my last. (I have added all his other titles to my wishlist.)

** According to Amazon I purchased this book on the 5th of November 2021 **

Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer.

Now, he’s been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.

Duchess Radley, Star’s thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin – and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town.

Murder, revenge, retribution.

How far can we run from the past, when the past seems doomed to repeat itself?

Happy reading!

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Storyhouse, Volume 1: A Blanket of Embers by Andy Kind @andykindcomedy

Storyhouse, Volume 1: A Blanket of Embers

by Andy Kind

24th January 2024

Storyhouse, Volume 1: A Blanket of Embers by Andy Kind is a brilliant collection of short stories! I enjoyed them all in one afternoon.

Each one is as unique, and entertaining, as the last.

Now, I’m never quite sure how to properly review a short story collection so, as I read each one, I made a note of my immediate thoughts.

Here are the ones that stood out the most for me….

Early Stages gave me goosebumps.

The Real Martha Morris is hilarious, at first, but has a shocking conclusion.

A Swift ‘Arf is very clever!

The Boy Who Could Be Anything had me laughing out loud although it probably shouldn’t have.

And I Still Do is thought provoking.

Footprints is another one that gave me goosebumps.

Strawberry Picking – Woah! This one gave me chills!!

I found Kuebiko quite poetic.

The Perplexity of the House on Malleus Road is so creepy!

On A Dream is yet another one that gave me goosebumps.

The Hardest Thing to See is another thought-provoking tale.

That Sunday I Went to Church is both hilarious and heart-warming.

Harry’s Pigeons melted my heart.

Aroma is particularly poignant. It costs nothing to be kind!

A Night in Hebden Bridge is both horrifying and hilarious.

The Sharpshooter is a powerful story to end on. Just wow!

Such clever writing! I can’t recommend this collection highly enough. I read it cover to cover in one sitting, but you could easily dip in and out as each one is short enough to be enjoyed on your tea/coffee break or whenever you fancy. I would happily buy this book for friends and family. I think it deserves to fly off the shelves!

I already own Andy Kind’s other books. I think I really need to bump them up my TBR list!

** Many thanks to Andy Kind for my ARC of this excellent short story collection. I’m honoured to have been the first person to have read it in full! **

Andy Kind presents a collection of short stories as a remedy for the time-strapped modern reader. Storyhouse Volume 1 offers a diverse array of tales through Dusk, into Night, and on to the Dawn – each representing different emotional landscapes. The tales are ‘pandemic babies,’ conceived through the intersection of lockdown monotony and persistent hopefulness.

A Blanket of Embers offers readers an escape into diverse minds and experiences, exploring the three R’s: redemption, resurrection, and reconciliation – while acknowledging the harsh realities of life where death, pride, and brokenness often prevail. The collection promises moments of pleasure, inviting readers to step into the world of compelling ‘What if?’ scenarios and poignant reflections on the human condition, while at times straying into the fantastical, the liminal, and the horrific.

In this, his first collection of short prose, Andy Kind displays both his depth of emotional nuance and his eye for the details hidden in the human psyche.

Happy reading!

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52 Weeks: An uplifting read about not letting cancer defeat you by Barry Lillie @BarryLillie1

52 Weeks: An uplifting read about not letting cancer defeat you.

by Barry Lillie

52 Weeks is a wonderful story. Having read 4 months: An introduction to 52 Weeks, which is hilarious, I was very much looking forward to catching up with the characters again.

It’s set in Stoke-on-Trent which I love. These people, as many often did at the time, met their spouses, and formed close friendships whilst working in the pot banks and these relationships have stood the test of time.

I loved Beryl immediately and my heart went out to her when she receives her terminal diagnosis. She is so determined not to let it dominate the rest of her life though. She will live each day, maintain as much normality as possible, and maybe try a few new things along the way. I love her acceptance of her son and her tolerance of her daughter who doesn’t cope very well with the news, understandably.

It seems so weird to say that a book about one lady’s battle with cancer is funny, but it really is. I read this at bedtime, and I had to stop myself from laughing out loud SO many times because my husband was already asleep next to me. Honestly, it’s just brilliant!

I LOVE Beryl’s husband, Len. He is hilarious! My favourite line of his being the one about him having no friends in Jamaica. LOL! I love that he tries to appreciate Beryl’s need to maintain a sense of normality, whilst also looking after her the best way he knows how.

I love Vera. She cracks me up!

I love that the group of friends are summoned when one of them has a new carpet or bathroom fitted. I can just imagine that’s how groups of friends used to be back in the day, in and out of each other’s houses all the time for cups of tea, and cake, and random chat. It’s a shame it’s not generally like that these days.

There are a few hospital scenes throughout the story where Beryl visits her consultant and there are references to her pain and other symptoms, but her illness is by no means the focus of this story.

Beryl is a special character who finds joy in everything, whether it be something she has never done before or just the small things that make her happy like coffee and cake with her friend of a morning whilst catching up on the gossip or sitting in front of the telly with her husband of an evening once she’s done the washing up after tea. Her love for her family and friends is palpable and her zest for life inspirational.

** Many thanks to Barry Lillie for my review copy **

52 Weeks: An uplifting story of survival.

When the twelve month life expectancy forecast comes as a bombshell, Beryl refuses to surrender to cancer’s ticking clock. She is determined to embrace each day and leave a record for those she’ll leave behind.

Supported by her family and best pal Vera, known for her eccentric approach to life, Beryl lives life to its fullest, finding humour in the mundane and happiness in the simplest of situations.

Everything, from a hen night to an out-of-date library ticket and a pregnant Bedlington terrier to being a life model, is a new adventure to be savoured. Yet it is befriending, Kate, who has the same prognosis, that becomes the most fulfilling.
52 Weeks is a heartwarming tale filled with moments of humour and flashes of heartache as Beryl discovers how love and friendship can make the act of living the most important part of every day.

Join Beryl’s journey today and be prepared to smile, laugh and perhaps even shed a tear.

Happy reading!

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Things I Wanted To Say by Monica Murphy 

Things I Wanted To Say

by Monica Murphy 

This book was gifted to me from a lovely Bookstagram friend for my Birthday last year. It’s nothing like my usual kind of read and if I’m honest I wasn’t sure I was going to like it at first.

The main characters are 17-year-old American students, Whit and Summer. Whit has been born into a wealthy family and is in line to inherit a fortune. He struts around like he owns the school, and pretty much does. He’s a handsome lad and everyone bows down to him, but he’s not a particularly nice boy. And he is a boy, but with the confidence of a much more experienced man. I didn’t like him at all to begin with. His behaviour towards Summer is shocking, although I could kind of understand his animosity towards her mother. The bullying at the beginning made for uncomfortable reading at times. It takes ‘treat them mean, keep them keen’ to a whole new level!

The chemistry between them is obvious from the start though. However, I have no idea why Summer puts up with the way Whit treats her. I know they say some girls love a bad boy, but oh my days! She’s got her own past she’s battling to recover from, but she’s a beautiful girl who deserves so much better. Does she want better though!?

Their relationship soon becomes one of obsession and they can’t get enough of each other. (This is a very explicit book so it might not be for you if you’re offended by that kind of content.) Summer isn’t good enough for Whit though, according to his family. She isn’t marriage material, and they have his future mapped out for him, so she can only ever be a temporary plaything as far as they’re concerned. Whit has other plans though….

He grew on me eventually 😉

I found myself completely invested in their story!

** Many thanks to @mama_bookworm_ for my paperback copy. Hope you enjoy it. I see I sent it to you for your Birthday too! **

Whit Lancaster is the cold, heartless and devastatingly handsome bad boy at Lancaster Prep.

Beautiful Summer Savage has no time for Whit. But his intense gaze traps her under a spell. Fills her with a longing she doesn’t understand.

When Whit gets into trouble one night, Summer invites him in. Tends to his wounds. Lets her guard down, just for a moment . . .

Which is when Whit takes off in the dead of night. Taking her journal with him.

Now he holds all her darkest secrets, threatening to expose her to the entire school. So Summer strikes a deal with Whit.

A deal that leaves her at his mercy behind closed doors . . .

But what if he’s at hers?

Happy reading!

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#FlashbackFriday February 2024

Hi, and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

On the first Friday of each month, I like to look back at the books I was reading the previous year during the same month.

Please do join in if you have the time, I’d love to see your posts 🙂

A big thank you to those who already join in regularly! xx

Here are my reviews from February 2023 + a link to previous February FBFs….

Burnt Norton by Caroline Sandon @CMontagueAuthor

The Catch by T.M. Logan @TMLoganAuthor

The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore @JennyWriteMoore

My morning with author, Caroline Montague #BurntNorton

Of Skinned Knees and Nettle Stings by Miss Leona Barker 

Moving On by Marcie Steele @marcie_steele
#FlashbackFriday February 2023

happy reading!

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Deadly Plot (A Bunch Courtney Investigation, Book 5) by Jan Edwards @Jancoledwards #PublicationDay #BookPromotion @BoBookPublicity

Bunch is back!!

Deadly Plot (A Bunch Courtney Investigation Book 5)

by Jan Edwards

When the body of Nario Costa is dug up in Wyncombe’s Victory Gardens, Bunch Courtney’s investigations unearth far more than an escaped POW!

What at first appears to be a cold case takes a darker turn as she uncovers links far beyond her Sussex home — and the body count begins to rise!

Book 5 of 5: A Bunch Courtney Investigation

OUT NOW!

About the author

Jan Edwards – author of the Bunch Courtney Investigations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEuKYA53T7o&fbclid=IwAR334iyQEHPW322q-fG-ZWUnm0WXM3Yn4ed9xJlUEmxKL5fH97rZjZ5ZEis

Jan Edwards is a UK author with several novels and many short stories in horror, fantasy, mainstream and crime fiction, including Mammoth Book of Folk Horror as well as various volumes of the MX Books of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. Jan is an editor with the award-winning Alchemy Press (includes The Alchemy Press Books of Horror series. Jan was awarded the Arnold Bennett Book Prize for Winter Downs, the first in her ww2 crime series The Bunch Courtney Investigations.

To read more about Jan go to: https://janedwardsblog.wordpress.com/

Winner of the Arnold Bennett Book Prize; Karl Edward Wagner award; Winchester Slim Volume award (for Sussex Tales). Short listed for both the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction and Best Collection.

Happy reading!

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Deadly Plot (A Bunch Courtney Investigation Book 5) by Jan Edwards @Jancoledwards

I have loved every single one of the Bunch Courtney Investigation books, so I was very much looking forward to reading Deadly Plot. I knew I was in for a treat, and I wasn’t wrong.

In this book a body is found buried in a local allotment and Rose ‘Bunch’ Courtney is hired to help with the investigations, alongside her many other duties and responsibilities.

Bunch is a fabulous character. She’s determined she will not become a typical housewife and to be honest I doubt she’d even find the time. She very much needs to be busy. She is still grieving and trying to accept her own limitations whilst doing everything she can to support the war effort and help solve this most recent murder. I love how curious and intuitive she is. She is an asset to the team.

I love the relationship she has with her family and her colleagues. I do find her quite amusing at times. Her dedication to everything she does is admirable, especially considering the potential risks to her own life.

I love the language throughout this book and the setting. Obviously, I wasn’t alive during the war, and I’ve never been to Sussex, but this book transported me to that time and place. I was immersed in the story. There is such a diverse and fascinating cast of characters. I loved it!

If you love a good murder mystery, historical fiction, and/or books set during the war then look no further. If you’re new to the series though, start with book one, Winter Downs.

**Many thanks to Jan Edwards for my advance kindle copy for review**

When the body of Nario Costa is dug up in Wyncombe’s Victory Gardens, Bunch Courtney’s investigations unearth far more than an escaped POW!

What at first appears to be a cold case takes a darker turn as she uncovers links far beyond her Sussex home — and the body count begins to rise!

Pre-order now

I.C.Y.M.I

Winter Downs #BlogTour #BookReview @Jancoledwards @penkhullpress @BunchandDodo
In Her Defence (A Bunch Courtney Investigation) by Jan Edwards @Jancoledwards #BlogTour #BookReview
Listed Dead (A Bunch Courtney Investigation) by Jan Edwards @Jancoledwards @penkhullpress #BookReview
In Cases of Murder (A Bunch Courtney Investigation Book 4) by Jan Edwards @Jancoledwards #BookReview

Happy reading!

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Old Farts Club, Mick Williams @mickwilliamsau2

Hi, I just wanted to make you all aware of these excellent books by Mick Williams….

I was lucky enough to have read very early copies of these quite some time ago and because I’m an idiot I neglected to write proper reviews for them at the time.

I can, however, confirm that I thoroughly enjoyed them both and very much recommend that you add them to your reading list.

I intend to re-read them at some point and update my review(s). Apologies to Mick for being so disorganised. Thank you so much for sending me ARCs. I do genuinely appreciate having the opportunity to read your books way in advance of the general public 🙂

Anyway, here are the details you need folks….

The Old Farts Club returns in the explosive sequel to the award-winning debut, Exodus.

A sniper’s bullet buzzes the ear of retired bomb disposal expert, John McIntyre, leaving his colleague dead in the street.

When McIntyre discovers the sniper was only the first part of a kill-team sent to stop their investigation into mysterious happenings in the North Sea, he calls in a favor from an old military friend, English, the latest recruit of The Old Farts Club.

While The Club heads overseas to help McIntyre, a purse snatching at home leads Dud’s wife, Evie, and her sister on a chase across the country to confront the thief – a journey that develops into an adventure more perilous and chilling at every turn.

But when the guys find themselves isolated in unchartered waters, and the girls realize the stakes are much higher than they expected, both will have to call on outside help if they are to have any chance of survival.

Will the mission closest to home turn out to be their most dangerous yet?
Sarge and Numbers head to the sleepy town of Berding’s Pointe, Indiana, for the funeral of a friend and fellow veteran, only to find that everything has changed.

The once peaceful town is now gripped with fear and riddled with corruption.
What starts as a protection racket escalates into full-blown violence. A sinister cult, preparing to make a huge sacrifice, is slowly taking over. The authorities don’t care, and the residents are helpless.

When the sacrifice looms closer and people go missing, the town needs an army.
All they have is The Club.

Can Sarge and the rag-tag gang save their friends before the death toll rises and the entire town is taken?

The Old Farts Club returns in ‘Man Down’, the third book in the award-winning action thriller series.

For page-turning excitement, the comradery of military veterans, and epic fights of good vs evil, pick up Man Down and join The Club today!

New to the series?

Start here….

Jamaica: a Caribbean paradise fraught with unseen danger.

The Old Farts Club: a small group of mixed-age military veterans with various ‘skills’ who frequent a local fast food joint to swap stories and trade tales.

During a dream Jamaican vacation, Danny ‘Dud’ Wilkerson is devastated when, after a seemingly random accident, his wife Evie vanishes.

The Montego Bay police force insists on a seventy-two hour wait before anyone is officially considered missing. With concrete evidence of her disappearance, Dud can’t wait and, faced with a race against time to find his wife, calls on The Old Farts Club to join him in paradise to track her down.

About Mick Williams….

Mick Williams moved from Stoke-On-Trent, England to Kentucky, USA. Then, after almost a decade, he moved back. Then, after three years, he moved back again.

This time he’s staying.

In between reading, writing and listening to good music he still watches proper football and, for his sins, follows his local team, Port Vale. He does also still cheer for the Indianapolis Colts.

He was adopted by two cats, Crash and Thud, and resides with his patient wife (who is also tiring of moving!) in Kentucky.

Opens profile photo

Happy reading!

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Trail of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani @sejal_badani

Trail of Broken Wings

by Sejal Badani 

Trail of Broken Wings is an emotional, difficult read, but completely compelling.

I didn’t have any expectations about this book. It is one which has been waiting patiently in my kindle library for a while and I didn’t even re-read the blurb before I started it.

I was not prepared for the heartache.

The story is told from the point of view of a mother and her three daughters. Three grown up daughters who couldn’t be any different to each other, living very different lives.

They all once lived under the same roof as their abusive father though. The father who now lies in a coma he is unlikely to come out of.

I’m struggling with what to say without giving anything away, but my heart broke for all four women along the way. I struggled to understand the mother, but I have no experience of abuse so I can’t really judge. I can’t even begin to imagine how I would cope with a husband like hers. Nor could I ever imagine my dad laying a finger on me.

Learning how their childhoods are still affecting the daughters’ adult lives is heartbreaking. How could anyone not be affected by such a past.

As the story progresses truths are revealed, secrets are shared, and the heartache increases. I never imagined things could have been any worse, but it’s just devastating. No one should ever have to endure what these women went through.

However, a mother’s bravery, finally having an opportunity to talk things through and be truly honest with themselves and each other means healing can begin and there is hope for a happier future.

Such a beautifully written novel. I highly recommend.

**According to Amazon I purchased this kindle book on 15th April 2015. Sejal Badani’s other book, The Storyteller’s Secret, is now on my wishlist and I look forward to anything else she might write in the future**

Goodreads Best Fiction Finalist and Amazon Charts and USA Today Bestseller

When her father falls into a coma, Indian American photographer Sonya reluctantly returns to the family she’d fled years before. Since she left home, Sonya has lived on the run, free of any ties, while her soft-spoken sister, Trisha, has created a perfect suburban life, and her ambitious sister, Marin, has built her own successful career. But as these women come together, their various methods of coping with a terrifying history can no longer hold their memories at bay.
Buried secrets rise to the surface as their father–the victim of humiliating racism and perpetrator of horrible violence–remains unconscious. As his condition worsens, the daughters and their mother wrestle with private hopes for his survival or death, as well as their own demons and buried secrets.
Told with forceful honesty, Trail of Broken Wings reveals the burden of shame and secrets, the toxicity of cruelty and aggression, and the exquisite, liberating power of speaking and owning truth.