traceyroberts's reviews
585 reviews

It's Anthony Wistern's 60th birthday and his wife, Olivia, has thrown the most lavish birthday party to celebrate and also to show off how disgustingly rich they are.  But the party ends in disaster when Anthony is found dead. Anthony is then stuck in the afterlife holding centre until he can figure out how he died.  Only then will he be able to move on. 

The story is told from three different POVs, the grieving widow, a true crime podcaster and the dead guy from beyond the grave. I love the authors take on the afterlife, it's both original and strangely believable in it's mundaneness.  
The characters are all deeply unlikeable and as a family they are most definitely dysfunctional but Mackie writes them in such a way that you love to hate them.  

This was my first time reading this author and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this darkly humourous and twisty thriller.   This is definitely an author I will read again. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC 

I love a locked room thriller and throw in a reality TV element and I'll definitely want to read it.  Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with a digital copy for review.

Ten celebrities are brought together for a reality TV show where they must spend two weeks on a remote Scottish Island, live like monks and try to survive.  After several near misses the contestants soon realise that the production team's Health and Safety protocols are severely lacking or is there a killer in their midst?

I thought this was a solid debut novel from Louise Minchin.  I found the TV element combined with the desolate setting made this a pressure cooker of a thriller.  It had me gripped from beginning to end and I did not guess the outcome.  I also enjoyed the cast of characters. An interesting mix of personalities to make a few sparks fly.

Overall I found this a fast paced and twisty read, full of suspense and atmosphere. I'm looking forward to reading more from Louise Minchin. 

I've always been a fan of Jane Costello and it's wonderful to have a new book from her after quite a few years.  

This book in particular appealed to me as being a woman of a certain age I can definitely relate to the main character's struggles with menopause. Although the book isn't filled with hot flushes and moments of brain fog.  In fact I thought it was the perfect balance of humour, spiciness and real life struggles. 

I really enjoy this author's writing style.  It's easy to read with plenty of humour and funny side characters. It is wonderful to read a romcom that's aimed at an older reader. 

My thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC. 

I visited the beautiful island of Crete some years ago and was looking forward to being transported back there by reading Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall.  However this was not the uplifting summer romance read that was expecting.

The prologue promises this to be a novel filled with magic, but unfortunately this aspect was not really explored. I thought this was a shame as that would have made for a more interesting story.  Also the housekeeper, Katerina was an intriguing character who I would have liked to have seen more of. 

However, after the prologue we are introduced to Stella.  She is grieving the loss of her best friend and the breakdown of her marriage.  Stella is hoping getting away with her children and another friend will be the tonic she needs.   Unfortunately I just couldn't connect with Stella and couldn't understand why she made the decisions she does.  I also don't understand the relevance with Stella being accident prone. She was constantly picking at scabs and discovering bruises which she couldn't remember receiving.  When a little romance does eventually happen, it's in the form of a sex scene which for me was completely out of place, felt quite jarring and a bit icky. 

What I did enjoy was the descriptions of Crete, the scenery and the food.  It reminded me of what I love about the island. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for review purposes. 

One Midnight With You is the brand new novel by Shari Low and takes place during the build up to New Year/Hogmanay celebrations.

I love this author's writing style and her talent for building a heartwarming and uplifting story while touching the deeper, darker emotions such as grief, jealousy and loss.  In this novel there are quite a few characters to keep track of but it didn't take me long to get to know them all and their stories.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.