Author: bookmarksandstages

Real name is Louise. Books and Theatres are passions of mine, as is supporting people in any way I can. Since starting my blog in 2019 I’ve reviewed books and theatre. Publishers, authors, blog tour organisers kindly entrust me with books, in-exchange of an honest review. I’ve been invited to and attend book events and write them up and review. I have started to interview authors too. I review theatre - plays, musicals, stand up comedy. I’ve been invited to review plays and comedians. I love connecting with the reading, writing, publishing, acting communities. On my blog, I also have a Contact Me, if you’d like anything reviewed etc. I generally get back to people within 48hrs. I hope you enjoy my blog as I take you through my book and theatre reviews as well as book events and festivals as I attend them.

#Review By Lou of – The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels By Janice Hallett @JaniceHallett @ViperBooks #TheMysteriousCaseOfTheAlpertonAngels #Mystery

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
By Janice Hallett

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is by best selling author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code. It has intrigue and a sinister darkness. Check out the blurb and my full review below.

Blurb

THE SMASH HIT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *** *** THE NEW MYSTERY PHENOMENON FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE APPEAL *** ‘The queen of tricksy crime’ – SUNDAY TIMES ‘Her best so far’ – MARIAN KEYES ‘Another resounding success’ – DAILY EXPRESS Open the safe deposit box. Inside you will find research material for a true crime book. You must read the documents, then make a decision. Will you destroy them? Or will you take them to the police? Everyone knows the sad story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who brainwashed a teenage girl and convinced her that her newborn baby was the anti-Christ. Believing they had a divine mission to kill the infant, they were only stopped when the girl came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than stand trial, while mother and baby disappeared into the care system. Nearly two decades later, true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed; if Amanda can find them, it will be the true-crime scoop of the year, and will save her flagging career. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby’s trail. As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong. The truth is something much darker and stranger than they’d ever imagined. And the story of the Alperton Angels is far from over. From the bestselling author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code comes a stunning new mystery for fans of Richard Osman and S.J. Bennett. The devil is in the detail…

Review

The Alperton Angels is another cracking case from Janice Hallett, the author of The Appeal, which turned out to be quite the phenomenon in the attraction it garnered. I first saw Janice Hallett talk about The Twyford Code and The Alperton Angels at Bloody Scotland in Stirling in 2022 with Joanne Harris. It captured my attention, little did I know I’d have the opportunity to review it.

Cults are always intriguing when it comes to books and tv. I’ve long been intrigued and horrified by them ever since a certain episode in Byker Grove, a tv series in the 1990’s for teens. So, this book piqued my interest. The book did not disappoint!

The mystery is thought-provoking in the questions it poses in what would you do in certain situations. It in turn also creates a sinister atmosphere.
There are 2 true crime writers trying to uncover and solve a few murders, a missing baby and what of the cult that is darker than anyone can imagine?

There’s a real depth and intensity with the story being told through articles, emails, transcripts and texts. The book is sufficiently dark and twisty that it keeps you gripped and guessing the truth until the end.

Thanks to Viper for the opportunity to review and for the book in exchange of an honest review.

#Review By Lou of Picture You Dead By Peter James @peterjamesuk @panmacmillan #Grace #PictureYouDead #CrimeFiction

Picture You Dead
By Peter James

Today I’ve decided to reveal my review on Picture You Dead by Peter James. It is in the DS Roy Grace series, which incidentally can be read in any order. There is also Grace on ITV at the moment with a different case. Discovering the books is also great, so you can now read and watch the works of Peter James. Discover the blurb and the review below.

Blurb

Discover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of Peter James’s award-winning detective series, which is now a major ITV programme starring John Simm as Roy Grace.

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace finds himself plunged into an unfamiliar and rarefied world of fine art. Outwardly it appears respectable, gentlemanly, above reproach. But beneath the veneer, he rapidly finds that greed, deception and violence walk hand-in-hand.

Harry and Freya, an ordinary couple, dreamed for years of finding something priceless buried amongst the tat in a car boot sale.

It was a dream they knew in their hearts would never come true – until the day it did . . .
They buy the drab portrait for a few pounds, for its beautiful frame, planning to cut the painting out. Then studying it back at home there seems to be another picture beneath, of a stunning landscape. Could it be a long-lost masterpiece from 1770? If genuine, it could be worth millions.

One collector is certain that the painting is genuine. Someone who will use any method he can to get what he wants and will stop at nothing.

And Harry and Freya are about to discover that their dream is turning into their worst nightmare . . .

Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Picture You Dead is the eighteenth title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Find You Dead and Left You Dead.

Review

In Picture You Dead, readers, and Roy Grace are plunged into the dark, murky side of the art world, in-particular that of fine art, a world that makes for a great backdrop to crime fiction and Peter James mixes the two with aplomb.

Harry and Freya are just ordinary people leading ordinary lives and one painting could alter it all in unexpected ways and far from how they would want it to change. This is what leads D.S. Roy Grace and his team into territory that is unfamiliar to them, which leads them needing expert help in this area and come across the perfect match in the tv world, quite a stalwart. From there, it becomes more intriguing.

Picture You Dead is a highly engaging and enjoyable read!
It can be read as a standalone and the books can be read in any order.

Grace is a major tv drama series on ITV, currently at time of writing this review is in its 3rd series with John Simm playing Roy Grace and is currently touring in the UK with Wish You Were Dead, with George Rainsford as Roy Grace.

Thanks to PanMacmillan for a review copy.

#Article by Lou – Celebrating Authors – Fern Britton @Fern_Britton #HarperCollinsUK @fictionpubteam #CelebratingAuthors #ContemporaryFiction #LiteraryFiction #RomanticFiction #HistoricalFiction #TV #ReadingCommunity #WritingCommunity #CelebratingAuthors

Celebrating Authors – Fern Britton
By Louise – Lou

As part of my blog in 2023 until it reaches 5 years old in September, I will be celebrating an author or publisher every so often. Join me as I celebrate works of Fern Britton in this part of my series of blog posts. Find a short article and a bit about a couple of her books and links below.

Fern Britton is a well-known TV presenter and author. She has successfully published over 15 books – stand-alone books, novellas and non-fiction over many years and at least one was a Quick Reads book in the Reading Agency scheme. She is also known for her tv presenting on programmes such as Ready Steady Cook, This Morning, Watercolour Challenge (rebooted), My Cornwall and many more.

I’ve read a number of books by Fern Britton, most pre-blog, so one day I will write reviews of more as I highly recommend her; but whilst writing my blog, I have had amazing opportunities such as to review her books and during lockdown, be part of a small group of people on Zoom to interview her in a Q&A set up by her publisher, all of which you can find in the links below in this short article. I was fortunate enough to attend an in-person talk at Good HouseKeeping magazine a couple of years later where she talked warmly and intelligently about The Good Servant as well as candidly about her life, including gardening. She also gave people opportunity to have a signed book and to meet her, which was fortunate for me as her kindness has been beyond and I like to thank people in person. I highly recommended her books, tv programmes and her talks.

Fern Britton’s tv programmes are inspiring, interesting and warm. Anything she touches, her passion and genuine curiosity oozes, pulling in her audience. It’s a great skill and no mean feat, considering the amount of programmes made on many channels.
Her books are excellent for curling up with for all year round reading with your favourite snack and drink, whatever the weather. They are evocative and compelling, whether it is romantic fiction, such as A Seaside Affair or historical such as The Good Servant. She has the mystique in her writing to enthral and enchant as she envelopes the reader in the scenery and gives them a clear window into many characters lives. She also has the ability to use facts as a base and fictionalise a story just enough to steer away from it becoming non-fiction as she has in Daughters of Cornwall and The Good Servant.

Daughters of Cornwall is fiction, but was inspired by her own family. It’s a fascinating story across the generations, taking in 1918, 1939 and 2020. It truly is a compelling read with bloodlines and secrets from start to finish.

Within the link for the blurb and full review, you will also find a write-up of the Q&A and about the online book launch. Daughters of Cornwall

The Good Servant is a fictional story based on fact about Marion Crawford (Crawfie) is a young Scottish woman who becomes a governess to two princesses – Princess Margaret and the princess who became our queen – Queen Elizabeth II. It is a thoughtful, interesting book that now holds a deeper poignancy than ever before.
There are twists and motives uncovered and a sense of duty revealed in this engaging read.

Find out more about the fascinating, well researched book in the blurb and review within the link. The Good Servant

#Review of Force of Hate By Graham Bartlett @gbpoliceadvisor @AllisonandBusby #BlogTour

Force of Hate
By Graham Bartlett

Force of Hate is an excellent, timely crime fiction book you don’t want to miss! I am delighted and excited to be on the blog tour, organised by the publisher – Allison and Busby. Check out more in the blurb and my review below.

Blurb

When a firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers’ site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders.

Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deeper into the killings. She uncovers a criminal ring of human trafficking and euthanasia all leading to a devastating plot which threatens thousands of lives and from which the murderous politician looks sure to walk away scot-free.

Review

Force of hate is a searingly compelling portrayal of the darker sides of life. Superintendent Jo Howe has her work cut out what becomes increasingly twisted crimes that she reckons all points to the far right. It is twisty with euthanasia and human-trafficking amongst the crimes.

The tension tightly builds as you read more in what is a fast-paced read. It’s easy to get hooked into pretty quickly, even with some of the darkest of subject matters. I think it is great, however, that human-trafficking is portrayed in books. It keeps such an important matter highlighted. The book truly shows the extremities of behaviours and ideals, as well as creating a meaty story with lots for the police to get stuck into.

Amongst all the crimes, Graham Bartlett allows the readers to get to know the characters he writes, such as what they do, their personalities, their banter and so forth. It’s a team that’s well-written and for readers to feel involved in.

Graham Bartlett has served in the police force for many years and now writing novels as authentic as they get as a result of his years of knowledge and experience. It’s an important story he tells in a highly engaging, plausible manner.

Thanks to the publisher Allison and Busby for inviting me onto the blog tour and for the book to review from, as well as a copy of Bad for Good (which I will also review). that all arrived packaged up in a police bag.

About the Author

Graham Bartlett rose to become chief superintendent and the divisional commander of Brighton and Hove police. His first non-fiction book Death Comes Knocking was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, which he then followed with Babes in the Wood. He co-wrote these books with bestselling author, Peter James. Bartlett is also a police procedural and crime advisor helping scores of authors and TV writers inject authenticity into their work.

#Review By Lou of Fire In the Mountain By AJ Aberford @AJAberford @HobeckBooks #DetectiveGeorgeZammit

Fire In The Mountain
By AJ Aberford

Fire in the Mountain is another terrifically gripping book published by Hobeck Books, who invited me onto the blog tour to give a review in-exchange of a book.

Blurb

A colleague in need
Superintendent George Zammit is persuaded to go to Sicily to investigate the disappearance of his superior’s niece.
There, George discovers a city overshadowed by the mighty Mount Etna, a huge volcano perilously close to a major eruption that would have disastrous consequences around the world.

The magic of volcano
George finds the volcano not only provides unlimited energy, but has long been worshipped by an ancient and mysterious cult, which believes it has the power of renewal and rebirth. Strange priests and monks wander the volcano’s flanks and the old volcanic tunnels, risking the wrath of Mother Etna to keep its secrets safe.

Unlimited power, unlimited wealth
The dark forces of organised crime have captured the green energy of the volcano and grown rich on the profits. Others have noticed this deep source of wealth and they gather to plot and scheme to take a share of their own. Rival organisations play their cards, leaving George trapped between the warring factions.

George enters a world beyond his control
In his quest to find the missing girl, George, and his unlikely allies, find themselves caught between the forces of nature, superstition and organised crime. It is time for a hero to step forward and risk all to take on all these competing threats. Can it be George? And how does he learn an important lesson about trust and loss?

Review

Fire in the Mountain is action-packed with the strange forces and energy of a volcano, family, mafia and fracking. George Zammit has his work cut out between the corruption and dark forces of Sicily and Malta. The juxtaposition of wonderful picture postcard scenery and food and the darker sides of the islands creates an explosive, gripping story.

Assistant Commissioner Gerald Camilleri‘s niece has gone missing, whilst out protesting against fracking. AJ Aberford brings politics, nature, family, power and policing very well together in what is a gripping, well-researched, tightly written crime book with superstition, cultish behaviours and crime. It’s quite the unexpected page-turner, after a slow-burn that will sweep the reader into the darker-side of life and will throw any misconceptions of the islands of everything being just right, deep in the water.

Fire In The Mountain is part of a series, but it is also, in terms of the crime, complete in itself, so works very well as a standalone novel.

#Review By Lou of – Birthright By Charles Lambert @charles_lambert @JaimeFrost @inkeditorial #Birthright #PsychologicalThriller #Thriller

Birthright
By Charles Lambert

Today I have a review of Birthright, an excellent psychological thriller book for fans of Ian McEwan, Rupert Thomson and Edward St Aubyn. Please find the blurb and my review below.

A sublime psychological thriller from Polari Prize-shortlisted Charles Lambert.

Sixteen-year-old Fiona inhabits a privileged world of English affluence, though her relationship with her widowed mother is strained. When she discovers an old newspaper clipping of a woman and her daughter – the little girl a mirror image of her own younger self – she becomes convinced she has a true family elsewhere. Four years later, with the help of charming fraudster Patrick, Fiona drops everything to seek out her doppelgänger in Italy.

Fiona arrives in Rome to find Maddy living hand to mouth with her alcoholic mother. Spooked by the appearance of this strange girl wearing her face and stalking her every move, Maddy wants nothing to do with her. Caught in a surreal push-and-pull, the two are both fascinated and repulsed by the oddly familiar other, each coveting a different life. But they aren’t the only ones trying to control their fate, and the two women will soon learn that people aren’t always what they seem – though blood may still prove thicker than water.Birthright is a dark, gripping literary thriller for fans of Ian McEwan, Rupert Thomson and Edward St Aubyn

Birthright is a curious and compelling psychological thriller that takes readers into the lives of Fiona, in England and Maddy, in Rome. It begins with Fiona coming across a photograph of someone who looks like her, but is not her. She finds herself wanting to know more. She drops everything in her life in England, learns Italian and goes off to Rome to find Maddy.

Maddy may resemble Fiona in appearance, but their lives couldn’t be more polarised. Fiona has a better life background than what Maddy does, for starters. There’s a tension that grows in the push-pull scenarios, which in turn also increases intrigue as to how they’ll play this surreal time in their lives. Both would like to think they’ll secure their fates one way or another themselves, but there are other forces at play. There is also the suddenly, strong desire from Fiona, to find Maddy’s mother. It all borders onto obsession. As things deepen, the darker and more intriguing the book becomes as it shows what obsession and birthright can do and what hold it can have.

It is a gripping literary/psychological thriller that I highly recommend.

Thanks to Jaime at Ink Editorial for inviting me to review and for a copy of Birthright, in exchange of an honest review.