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#Review of The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney @LiamMcIlvanney – @@BloodyScotland Longlisted for #McIlvanneyPrize @RandomTTours #BlogTour #ScottishNoir #PsychologicalThriller #TheGoodFather

The Good Father
By Liam McIlvanney

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The Good Father, at time of writing this review has been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize (William McIlvanney that is) at Bloody Scotland. Having just read it, I can see, with such strong writing, why it’s on such a prestigious list. Readers of crime/psychological thrillers are in for a treat. Check out the blurb below and then my review to discover more…

Blurb

‘Heart-stopping and heart-rending, this is Liam McIlvanney’s best novel yet’ VAL MCDERMID

WHEN A CHILD DISAPPEARS, NO SECRET IS SAFE . . .

Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are normal, happy people with rich, fulfilling lives. They have a son they adore, a house on the beach and a safe, friendly community in a picture-postcard town.

Until, one day, Bonnie the Labrador comes in from the beach alone. Their son, Rory, has gone – the only trace left behind is a single black sandal.

Their lives don’t fall apart immediately. While there’s still hope, they dig deep and try to carry on.

But as desperation mounts, arms around shoulders become fingers pointed – at friends, family, strangers, each other. Without any answers, only questions remain. Who can they trust? How far will they go to find out what happened to Rory?

And the deadliest question of all: what could be worse than your child disappearing?

When the truth begins to emerge, they find themselves in a world they could barely have imagined.

‘Beautifully written, this is easily one of the finest crime novels I’ve read in a very long time’C.M. EWAN

Review

The writing stops you in your tracks right from the start. It grabs your attention in a way that makes you want to drop everything else that you’re perhaps supposed to do and read on.

Readers meet Robert Rutherford and before his name is even mentioned, there’s a sinister feel just before the blow of full-on directness in behaviour. His and Sarah’s son has gone missing. There’s the usual finger-pointing at the parents and the seaside town wanting to move on. There is also, however some strikingly beautifully, yet heart-wrenching passages of overwhelming sadness and despair and how that can feel. You go on a very emotionally charged journey with them, following them every step of the way to try and find out what happened to Rory. As you do so, you also see other people’s perspectives too, which is interesting as is the time-lapses. You also see the lengths people will go to in such a situation and feel the tensions mount. Who is trustworthy and who is not?

There are some shocking twists, clearly not written just for the shock factor, but really work in-line with the storyline and yet also keep you hooked in. There are a few hard-hitting themes that bring current topics to the forefront and are addressed very well. 

The Good Father is a strongly written emotional psychological thriller for summer that entrances and captivates into a seaside town with sinister activity.

#Interview by Lou with Renowned Magician, Kevin Quantum – Unbelievable Magic For Non-Believers @kevinquantum @ARedinburgh #MagicShow #Tricks #FamilyShow #Summer #EdFringe

Kevin Quantum, Unbelievable Magic
For Non-Believers

Assembly Rooms, Ball Room 
31 Jul to 24 Aug | 19:40
Tickets: Full price £16, concessions £15
Find out how to book after the interview

Let’s welcome magician extraordinaire who has a new show –
Unbelievable Magic for Non-Believers.

Kevin Quantum is becoming quite the stalwart at The Edinburgh Fringe with his amazing magic shows. I have seen 3 of them before and they’re all very different.
Discovered on Britain’s Got Talent, he was then trained by the almighty Penn and Teller. Today, I have the absolute pleasure of interviewing him about his illusions, joining the prestigious Magic Circle, another magic show he does and of course, what Simon Cowell is really like. The answers are fascinating!

First, here is a look at what his latest show is all about and then onto the interview and how you can get your hands on the tickets before they magically disappear before your very eyes.

Could it be magic? Kevin Quantum is Ready to Blow Your Mind

Are you a sceptic about magic? It can’t be real. Or can it? Former physicist Kevin Quantum was a non-believer – but an uncanny experience changed his mind. You might do the same – take a chance and go along to the first ever magic show for people who don’t believe. There will be spectacle, illusions, sleight of hand, trickery, danger, charm, comedy and maybe even the truly impossible. Kevin will also reveal the story of what turned made him realise that there may be more to the universe than meets the eye.

Scotland’s own international star of magic and Scottish Comedy Award nominee, Kevin Quantum, is fresh from the Adelaide Fringe where this brand new show was a five-star hit. This year the Edinburgh-based performer celebrates 20 years in magic. Trained by Penn and Teller and earning celebrity on Britain’s Got Talent, he is now an Ed Fringe favourite, amazing audiences with fun, fresh and mind-boggling shows each year. 

Think you know what’s real? Think again. Book now for big gasps and raw, unfiltered magic from a world-class showman. 

“A slick intriguing slice of magic…brilliantly different” ★★★★★ The Stage
“Master illusionist, unbelievable.” ★★★★★ Adelaide Advertiser

1. You are a former physicist. What attracted you to give that up, become a magician and appear on Britain’s Got Talent, where you found fame and an initial outlet for career longevity?

I didn’t really give up physics — I just started performing it. I was a PhD student designing fighter jet cockpits when I was chosen for a BBC reality show called Faking It. They trained me to become a magician in just four weeks, and I accidentally fell in love with the craft. Suddenly, my love for science collided with the storytelling and theatre of magic. As for Britain’s Got Talent — that gave me a way to reach millions in minutes. It’s one thing to perform at festivals; it’s another to blow someone’s mind live on primetime TV.

2. What was it like to be judged by the likes of Simon Cowell and the team on Britain’s Got Talent through all those rounds?

Honestly? It was far less brutal than you’d think. The team at Syco were incredibly supportive behind the scenes, and the judges gave refreshingly honest insights into my act — the kind of feedback that actually sticks. I still reflect on some of those notes today when I’m building new material. The whole experience pushed me to be sharper, clearer, and bolder on stage. You get very good at delivering something impossible in under 90 seconds. And you learn quickly what makes people lean in… or hit the buzzer.

3. You were fortunate to be trained by world-famous magicians, Penn and Teller. How did that come about and what was that experience like?

That was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. During Faking It, I was flown to Vegas to train with Penn & Teller. They were brilliant — sharp, generous, and refreshingly no-nonsense. They didn’t just teach me tricks; they taught me how to think like a magician. It shifted my brain from the scientific method to theatrical misdirection — while still using the same curiosity about the universe.

4. How do you go about curating a magic trick, whether it’s sleight of hand or other illusions, around the storytelling you do within your shows?

Story comes first. Always. I ask: What’s the feeling I want to create? Wonder? Fear? Laughter? Then I build the trick that earns that moment. Whether it’s a sleight-of-hand coin vanish or a Tesla coil firing a million volts through my body, the illusion has to serve the narrative. I like the audience to feel like they’re uncovering a mystery rather than watching a stunt.

5. How did you become a member of The Magic Circle and how has that enhanced your career?

To get into The Magic Circle, you have to pass a live exam in front of other magicians — no pressure. I joined early on and it felt like being handed the keys to a secret library. It gave me access to generations of knowledge and a network of the best minds in magic. It’s also a brilliant mark of credibility — especially when blending science and theatre as I do.

6. Your latest family show is called Unbelievable Magic for Non-Believers. How do you go about opening the minds of sceptics so they can enjoy the spectacle of magic that you perform?

I never ask anyone to believe in magic — only to experience it. The show invites sceptics in with logic, humour, and a healthy dose of self-awareness. We talk about free will, psychology, even probability… and then I smash those ideas with something that feels truly impossible. It’s not about fooling people — it’s about surprising them out of their certainty.

7. You also perform a show called Edinburgh Magic in the evening. How does that differ from your daytime show?

Edinburgh Magic is like slipping into a velvet-lined secret society. It’s intimate, luxurious, and aimed at adults who want to be dazzled. Think levitations, mind reading, and tricks that once fooled Houdini. In contrast, Unbelievable Magic for Non-Believers is for families and thinkers — it’s high-energy, story-driven, and a bit cheekier. Both shows bend reality, just in different lighting.

8. You appear a lot at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. What attracts you each year to perform there?

The Fringe is chaos in the best possible way. It’s where new work is tested, limits are pushed, and artists walk a creative tightrope every day. I love the energy, the risk, the sense of a thousand stories unfolding across the city all at once. Plus, I live here — so it’s either perform or lend my flat to a juggler.

9. What’s next for you and your impressive magic career?

I’m developing a new immersive show called Magic Awareness Society — part government lecture, part magical resistance movement. I’m also touring Unbelievable Magic for Non-Believers to science festivals and international venues. And I’m quietly working on a show where the Sword of Damocles literally hangs above me — but that’s another story… and probably another insurance form.

Bookings:

https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/981-kevin-quantum-unbelievable-magic-for-non-believers

www.assemblyfestival.com

Tel: 0131 623 3030



#Spotlight By Lou on My Husband’s Lies by MaryAnn Webb @bonnierbooks_uk #CompulsiveReaders #BlogTour

Psychological fans get ready for the thriller of the summer! My Husband’s Lies will have you questioning and thinking about everyone as it plays with your psyche. Who can you really trust? You think you might know those around you, but how well do you really know them? What secrets are they harbouring and what activities are they up to, that they’ve not told you? That person just might be your nearest and dearest, the love of your life, your husband, who’s got something as yet untold.
Take a look below at the enticing cover and the blurb to find out more about the book that’s available now so you can discover what’s going on behind those doors in this psychological thriller…

 

How well do you really know the people closest to you?

Aria Miller used to think she had the perfect life, but now that the honeymoon phase is all but a distant memory, she can’t shake the feeling her perfect life is a sandcastle waiting to collapse.

Recently she’s felt a prickle of anxiety when her husband Ethan says he has to work late. She’s trying to shake the feeling that he’s been lying. After all, trusting men has never worked out well for Aria . . . But sweet, kind Ethan has never given her a reason not to trust him, has he?

Perhaps the stress of trying for a baby is finally getting to her, recently she swears she feels someone is watching her as she grabs her morning decaf coffee.

Then, during a girls’ night that was supposed to take her mind off things, her best friend Isla is brutally murdered in a dark bathroom bar.

Aria is still reeling from the shock when the text arrives: How well do you know your husband?

And suddenly, amid a police investigation and Ethan’s increasingly strange behaviour, Aria is forced to question everyone around her – including herself.

He said he loved me. He said I had nothing to worry about. What else don’t I know about my husband’s lies?

***Please note this was previously published as How Well Do You Know Your Husband?***

#Review by Lou of Getting Away by Kate Sawyer @KateSawyer @bonnierbooks_uk #GettingAway #Summer #SummerRead #Holidays

Getting Away
By Kate Sawyer

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I actually finished Getting Away when I had got away myself for a little while. It felt rather appropriate for a title whilst staying a rare summer’s night away in a hotel. I enjoyed catching up with this family and through their holidays and secrets.

Blurb

Margaret Smith is at the beach.
It is a summer day unlike any other Margaret has ever known.
The Smith family have left the town where they live and work and go to school and come to a place where the sky is blue, the sand is white, and the sound of the sea surrounds them. An ordinary family discovering the joy of getting away for the first time.
Over the course of the coming decades, they will be transformed through their holiday experiences, each new destination a backdrop as the family grows and changes, love stories begin and end — and secrets are revealed.
Coming this summer, Getting Away is a dazzlingly ambitious new novel from the author of Waterstones’ Fiction Book of the Month, This Family, and the Costa shortlisted The Stranding.

Review

This is a story of holidays, family, love, loss, secrets. It tells the multi-generational story of the Smith family through the lens of looking back through 90 years holidays, which I thought was a pretty original idea and perfect for the summer holiday period. You can see the passage of time over each holiday and how things have changed in that time. It’s quite thought-provoking in a way about how in certain eras it was about flying for the first time, trying new foods that at first seemed strange. The things that nowadays, we as a human race unfortunately take for granted.

You see how each character grows and evolves, relates to each other and uncovers secrets in this compelling character-driven story. Life hasn’t always been summery and easy for them. Their hardships have been of some of the most challenging people can face. This has issues and topics that bravely are not shied away from and makes for an intriguing story and one where you can really get your teeth into it and be moved by.

I highly recommend this summer generational family saga to read this season with its complex family to follow. Getting Away truly is a book to escape somewhere with and read.

About the Author

Kate Sawyer worked as an actor and producer, and wrote several short films before turning her hand to fiction. She is the author of three novels: the forthcoming Getting Away, Waterstones Fiction Book of The Month, This Family, and her debut novel, The Stranding, which was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, won the East Anglian fiction prize, was adapted for BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime and is being developed for the screen by Fremantle and Afua Hirsch’s production company Born In Me.

When Kate isn’t writing, or talking to other authors about their writing practices for her podcast Novel Experience and as a chair for author events, she works as the Programme Curator for the annual Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival.  

After twenty years living in London, she recently returned to her native East Anglia, where she lives with her young daughter.

​

#Interview By Lou with Toby Mitchell, Theatre Director about UK Tour of The Elmer Adventure, A Stage Adaptation of David McKee’s Books About That Patchwork Elephant #TheElmerAdventure #Elmer #Theatre #ChildrensTheatre #FamilyPlay #Summer #SummerActivities #TouringPlay

Interview by Lou with Toby Mitchell
The Elmer Adventure

Elmer The Patchwork Elephant is on tour in a highly anticipated, very colourful, very exciting new stage play – The Elmer Adventure, adapted from those worldwide famous books by David McKee. More about that in a moment.

Thanks to The Space InBetween, I have had the absolute pleasure to interview the Award Winning Artistic Director Toby Mitchell from “Tall Stories” (Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo and more… Discover more later in the interview) about this new play suitable for 3 year olds plus. 

Welcome Toby to Bookmarks and Stages.

Elmer was created by David McKee and first published by Andersen Press in 1989. There are 30 picture books in the series and more novelty titles. Elmer has since gone on to sell over 10 million copies in over 60 languages. In the original classic book, Elmer realises that it is his differences that make him who he truly is, and these differences are what his friends love about him. ‘The Elmer Adventure’ is a new show that brings together three David McKee stories, ‘Elmer’, ‘Elmer and the Tune’ and ‘Elmer and the Hippos’. 

Everyone is invited to come to see the show wearing their most colourful clothes and accessories.

 So, on with the interview and some rather fun cast photos.
You can find out at the end where you too can join in fun of stories, magical puppetry, playfulness, songs and humour about a quest, friendship, acceptance and more…

1. Who or what inspired you to become a director and what was your pathway into this profession?


I’ve worked as a performer and as a director. When I was performing, I gradually realised that I preferred seeing the whole picture, rather than focusing on a smaller part of it. I originally studied French & German at university (and did loads of music and drama alongside) – I did an MA in Theatre Practice a few years later. Tall Stories was a very small company until we came across The Gruffalo story, just before the book became famous, and excitingly, we managed to get permission to put it on stage!

2.  Elmer has had a very long life with many generations of children reading the books, meaning expectations are high. What made you decide to create a live action stage show of Elmer?

The stories are brilliant! Such life and humour and joy. Also, the world loves Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, and 10 million books have been sold internationally. David McKee wrote over 30 Elmer books, which have been translated into more than 50 languages. So we came up with a satisfying way of telling three of the stories together in one show that would involve an exciting onstage journey for our three storytellers/performers too. Elmer is a well-travelled elephant, and that’s why we wanted to bring him to life on stage in a magical way, and we specially developed a life-size puppet for a big reveal. 

3.  How did you go about getting permission to create the stage show and was this an easy or challenging process?

We were competing against three or four other companies, so it was both exciting and an honour to get the rights! And now, having the opportunity to translate it for the stage has been great fun! As well as co-creating the script, I had a hugely talented creative team on board: designer, composer, lighting designer, sound designer, costume supervisor, and many others. When the audience enters the auditorium, it really feels like they’re stepping into the heart of a magical jungle. At Tall Stories, we have become known for our unique design and audience interactions through all our shows. In particular, we have a style of ‘try it at home’ storytelling, and we know that children re-enact the story and dress up when they are back at home, which is great for their development.
You’ve talked about bringing playfulness and the magical spirit of Elmer to the stage. How was it to get inside the head of a 3 year old plus mindset and direct a play that would hold their attention and create magical memories?

Essentially, I’m still a big kid – many people who work in theatre are. When we bring picture books to life on stage, we’re able to bring so much more to the original text and pictures. The trick is to tell great stories and take your audience (younger and older) seriously. Then you need to add humour, music, songs, and (when needed) puppets. Our near-lifesize Elmer puppet is a thing of beauty. There’s also extra dialogue, jokes, music, puppetry – and we engage with and interact with the audience throughout the show. All of these elements add hugely to the audience’s experience and create great memories for families.

4.  How can people find out where to see the play and where can they follow you on social media?
The Elmer Adventure is on a UK tour until 20 July 2025. For more information visit  tallstories.org.uk/the-elmer-adventure and come and chat to us at https://www.instagram.com/tallstories/ 


5.   Have you any other projects in mind at the moment?

Always! I’m especially proud of our famous adaptation of ‘The Gruffalo’ and our show celebrates its 25th birthday next year!  ‘The Smeds and The Smoos’ is currently on tour, and The Gruffalo’s Child is on a national tour from September. Over our 28 years of existence (and 20 years as a charity), we’ve produced over 30 shows. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to spend my life making theatre for young children and families that captures their imaginations.
 

UK Tour Dates

Fri 27 – Sun 29 June: Norwich Playhouse, Norwich Booking LINK

Sat 5 – Sun 6 July: Chelmsford Civic, Chelmsford Booking LINK

Tues 8 – Weds 9 July: Storyhouse Chester, Chester

Tues 15 – Thurs 17 July: Sheffield Lyceum, Sheffield Booking LINK

Fri 18 – Sun 20 July: Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield

#Review By Lou of Craig Revel Horwood on Stage with Show, Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing @CraigRevHorwood #Revelations #SongsBoysDontSing #Talk #Musicals #Theatre

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing is entertaining, humorous, poignant, emotionally moving as he cleverly intersperses talking about his personal and professional life with songs that relate to/link up to what he talks about.

“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” is what Craig Revel Horwood burst onto the stage with. Yes, he can sing and rather well. So much has come up roses for him and you can’t help but feel pleased as he reveals so much about his life.

As Craig Revel Horwood talks about his life, there is also some never seen before footage of him growing up. He is so open and honest about the ups and downs of life, from his family in Australia, especially his dad. I won’t say what he talks about as that’s for him to reveal and for you to hear about in the show. Let’s just say, it’s moving, for me, partially relatable and sounded like it took immense courage. Some of which absolutely warranted the applause he received.

The instrument, the Recorder, he’s proven is nothing to be sniffed at, at all. We were treated to him playing a duet with Ben and it sounded brilliant! This humble instrument only led onto amazing opportunities like playing at the Sydney Opera House and more besides as life progressed onwards and upwards.

Turns out he’s a fan of Disney and witnessing an inflatable costume is a sight to behold. He brings the quirky and runs with it magnificently!
He talked about enjoying playing Pantomime villains, Miss Hannigan from Annie and other parts on stage, some of which were long before Strictly, as well as choregraphing shows. I’ve seen Chess, Strictly Ballroom, Now That’s What I Call A Musical and they were all fabulous, but he’s also done so much more. He also candidly talks about not getting the parts and something odd happening at the real Moulin Rouge.

A sweet treat anyone? He baked on stage to show off his culinary prowess and what he produced was nice and very edible. Pretty good for 10 mins or so.

To show how cleverly creative he is, there was a duet of Sunset Boulevard with many of the words changed to reflect Strictly and the BBC. The fun and charisma between Craig and Ben is brilliant and oozes into the auditorium.

Turns out he does a lot of charitable work, including for the Osteoporosis Society. His attitude towards using celebratory status was absolutely wonderful, so says I, who does a lot of charitable work too on a smaller scale.

Showing a whole different side that isn’t often shown to the public, this was an inspiring, moving, humorous truthful talk as he allowed you to see so much that makes him.
He finished with This Is My Life and This Is Me. This is what I saw in Craig Revel Horwood, he is truthful, inspiring, moving, humorous, kind, talented. He’s a man who does life his way and its working out marvellously and here’s to him carrying on with all that he does and brings to people’s lives.
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” is what Craig Revel Horwood burst onto the stage with. Yes, he can sing and rather well. So much has come up roses for him and you can’t help but feel pleased as he reveals so much about his life.As Craig Revel Horwood talks about his life, there is also some never seen before footage of him growing up. He is so open and honest about the ups and downs of life, from his family in Australia, especially his dad. I won’t say what he talks about as that’s for him to reveal and for you to hear about in the show. Let’s just say, it’s moving, for me, partially relatable and sounded like it took immense courage. Some of which absolutely warranted the applause he received.The instrument, the Recorder, he’s proven is nothing to be sniffed at, at all. We were treated to him playing a duet with Ben and it sounded brilliant! This humble instrument only led onto amazing opportunities like playing at the Sydney Opera House and more besides as life progressed onwards and upwards.Turns out he’s a fan of Disney and witnessing an inflatable costume is a sight to behold. He brings the quirky and runs with it magnificently!He talked about enjoying playing Pantomime villains, Miss Hannigan from Annie and other parts on stage, some of which were long before Strictly, as well as choregraphing shows. I’ve seen Chess, Strictly Ballroom, Now That’s What I Call A Musical and they were all fabulous, but he’s also done so much more. He also candidly talks about not getting the parts and something odd happening at the real Moulin Rouge.A sweet treat anyone? He baked on stage to show off his culinary prowess and what he produced was nice and very edible. Pretty good for 10 mins or so.To show how cleverly creative he is, there was a duet of Sunset Boulevard with many of the words changed to reflect Strictly and the BBC. The fun and charisma between Craig and Ben is brilliant and oozes into the auditorium.Turns out he does a lot of charitable work, including for the Osteoporosis Society. His attitude towards using celebratory status was absolutely wonderful, so says I, who does a lot of charitable work too on a smaller scale.Showing a whole different side that isn’t often shown to the public, this was an inspiring, moving, humorous truthful talk as he allowed you to see so much that makes him.He finished with This Is My Life and This Is Me. This is what I saw in Craig Revel Horwood, he is truthful, inspiring, moving, humorous, kind, talented. He’s a man who does life his way and its working out marvellously and here’s to him carrying on with all that he does and brings to people’s lives.Craig Revel Horwood also has a CD out now that accompanies the show. He has also written several books, including the novel, Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street.

Find out where he’s touring next on his website here: https://www.craigrevelhorwood.com/