#Review By Lou of Voices of the Dead By Ambrose Parry @ambroseparry #CrimeFiction #HistoricalCrimeFiction #VoicesOfTheDead @RandomTTours #BlogTour

Voices of the Dead
By Ambrose Parry

Voices of the Dead is set in Edinburgh and in and around the Surgeon’s Hall, somewhere I have visited for the macabre, yet fascinating Burke and Hare Exhibition that people can still see today. Check out the blurb and my review below as part of the Random T. Tours blog tour…

Blurb

A SCOTSMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR

EDINBURGH, 1853.
In a city of science, discovery can be deadly . . .

In a time of unprecedented scientific innovation, the public’s appetite for wonder has seen a resurgence of interest in mesmerism, spiritualism and other unexplained phenomena.

Dr Will Raven is wary of the shadowlands that lie between progress and quackery, but Sarah Fisher can’t afford to be so picky. Frustrated in her medical ambitions, she sees opportunity in a new therapeutic field not already closed off to women.

Raven has enough on his hands as it is. Body parts have been found at Surgeons Hall, and they’re not anatomy specimens. In a city still haunted by the crimes of Burke and Hare, he is tasked with heading off a scandal.

When further human remains are found, Raven is able to identify a prime suspect, and the hunt is on before he kills again. Unfortunately, the individual he seeks happens to be an accomplished actor, a man of a thousand faces and a renowned master of disguise.

With the lines between science and spectacle dangerously blurred, the stage is set for a grand and deadly illusion . . .

Review

Science, it can be good but there is always a darker side. You can feel the dark, eerie atmosphere creep and swirl around the pages as times become reminiscent of those of Burke and Hare around the Surgeon’s Hall. The spiritualism and mesmerism adds to this.

Woven together with fact, including medical fact and fiction, Raven and Fisher have to piece a rather complex case together in this latest book in this beautifully written series, that brings the darker side of Edinburgh alive, as they discover the Voices of The Dead.

Will’s personal life at home is equally interesting to read about as finding body parts across the city. Parry brings the human interest story together well, alongside the quest for answers to solve a case. Will has a strained relationship with his son and has other pressures on top of this in his life to contend with.

Part of Sarah’s life shows the up-hill struggle and battles she faces as she pursues a medical career. The attitudes towards women in this profession and therapies are interesting to read, as is what the new therapeutic line that she finds to pursue that is not closed off to women.

I was easily hooked into this book and highly recommend it for any shelf and eyes to see. Even if historical crime books aren’t normally your thing, this is still a fascinating read and there’s lots to learn and think about from it, as well as a twisty plot that keeps you guessing as you go round Edinburgh.

About the Author

Ambrose Parry is a pseudonym for a collaboration between Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman.

The couple are married and live in Scotland.

Chris Brookmyre is the international bestselling and multi-award-winning author of over twenty novels.

Dr Marisa Haetzman is a consultant anaesthetist of twenty years’ experience, whose research for her Master’s degree in the History of Medicine uncovered the material upon which this series, which begun with The Way of All Flesh, is based.

The Way of all Flesh was longlisted for both the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year.

#Review by Lou of Narcoball, Love, Death and Football in Escobar’s Colombia By David Arrowsmith @mrwriterman79 @Octopus_Books #Narcoball #NonFiction #Football #TrueCrime

Narcoball
Love, Death and Football in Escobar’s Colombia
By David Arrowsmith

Lots of us have heard of the infamous, Pablo Escobar, the Columbian drug lord, but who knew he had an obsession of football? I certainly did not. Narcoball is a fascinating book that encompasses this and more as it shows a different side of his life and influence… You don’t need to be into football to be into this book.
Check out the blurb below and then my review as I kick off the Random T. Tours blog tour.

Blurb

Pablo Escobar had one obsession. Not drugs, not money, not power… football.
Narcoball uncovers the incredible story of Colombian football during the early 1990s – shaped by drug lords, rivalries, and ambition. With untold insights from the players and politicians, it uncovers a football empire backed by cartels – where victory was a currency of its own, and defeat, a matter of life and death.

This is a different story of Pablo Escobar and his rival. A tale of clandestine deals that reshaped Medellin’s football clubs, where fortunes were won and lost. It unveils the extraordinary bonds that Escobar forged with football’s luminaries and why his influence reached unprecedented heights, leading to the astonishing 5-0 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires, the murder of referees, and the ruthless coercion of officials culminating in the killing of Andres Escobar – the Colombian defender who paid the ultimate price for an own goal in the 1994 World Cup. It is also an examination of a people’s relationship with both the sport and the nefarious leaders that brought both pride and terror to their communities.
Set against the U.S War on Drugs, international threats, and government clampdowns, this is a gripping exploration of Colombian club football under Escobar’s rise and fall.

Review

Narcoball, I feel is fascinating, whether you’re a football fan or not, just for the mere fact that, if like me, you’ve heard of Pablo Escobar and realise that this is something different being told about him or if you’re interested in nefarious behaviours within communities and political leadership. Arrowsmith has tackled such wide-ranging subjects very well, without losing sight of the sport and Escobar. He’s created a gripping, knowledgeable read.

There’s a lot of money and deals to be had in both drugs and football. Narcoball, illustrates that fact. Not all football is equal, it would seem. Players take it all very seriously as they kick to score, to get their team on top. In Escobar’s time, it truly was a matter of life or death, in very real terms, and not just the innocent way the phrase is often used. There were real deaths!

When I was reading this, I got the feeling of darkness and fear, over-hanging. It is written in a way that holds your attention from start to finish. It makes you look differently at sport, and in this case, football and how it can, in the likes of Columbia’s case, intermingle in politics, in a way I hadn’t realised, nor thought of before, when we all see politicians today, gleefully saying how they cheer on “their team”.

The author has, intelligently put Escobar’s nefarious activities into context, so you can get a sense of what else is going on within Columbia, what sort of place it was in the 90’s and what the nearby US was doing. It gives you a sense of the politics and how it seemingly worked and what the awareness was of how far drug lords and cartels were doing and how much greater and wider their activities were than just getting people hooked on drugs.

I felt I learnt a lot reading this book and just how far-reaching Pablo Escobar’s influence went and more about his rise, how he rose to the heady heights of infamy, as he did and to his ultimate downfall.

I highly recommend this very eye-opening book.

#Review By Lou of Taylor Swift Is Life By Kathleen Perricone @kperricone #TaylorSwift #Swifties #Music #ErasTour #ModernIcons

Taylor Swift Is Life –

A Superfan’s Guide to All Things We Love about Taylor Swift

By Kathleen Perricone

This is one for all you “Swifties” out there. As she continues with her Eras tour, whether you have been able to get one of the most sought after tickets or not, let’s also build up the excitement for Taylor Swift Is Life. Part of The Modern Icon’s series, it’s a comprehensive book for all Taylor Swift fans out in July. I am fortunate to have an advance copy, thanks to Quarto Publishing Group. Check out my review, including a buy link (please note I am not affiliated to the buy link) and then blurb below.

Review

This is a must-have for Taylor Swift fans. This one is especially great for the tweens and teens, but there’s enough to also interest adults.
What’s your favourite Taylor Swift Song? Want to know more about Taylor Swift and more about those hidden “Easter eggs”? This is the book for you!
It becomes apparent all is covered in 3 parts in Taylor Swift Is Life:
“The Making of a Mastermind” covers her very early years, how she came to music and started in Country Music before switching to Pop and how this switch in styles helped her rise and rise in fame.
“Taylor-Made Music” treats fans to the hidden messages behind her songs. It feels an in-depth insight into the songs everyone hears all the time and includes her latest album – “The Tortured Poet Society.” The in-depth of study is fascinating in what it reveals and how it’s presented is engaging.
“Swiftology” is like an A-Z of Taylor Swift, including a horoscope so you can find out which song links to your star-sign, which is a bit of fun.

Over-all the book is well-presented and illustrated. It’s the time for Swifties to get the songs on and get an understanding of Taylor Swift like never before!
So to get past your “Cruel Summer” and discover more of a “Love Story” you can pre-order here: Amazon

Blurb

Celebrate your best Swiftie life with this gorgeously illustrated, all-encompassing fan book on everything there is to know and love about the modern icon that is Taylor Swift.

From her first vocal lessons at age nine, to learning the guitar at twelve, to becoming the most downloaded women on Spotify, and then breaking the internet with her Eras Tour, Taylor Swift has rocked the music scene and captured the hearts of fans across the globe. Gathering her incredible life story, music, and fan culture all in one place, Taylor Swift Is Life captures her epic achievements, brilliant lyrics, and her incredible ability to connect with her fans like no other musician before her.

This treasure trove of essential Swiftie knowledge includes:

A full biography capturing her early inspiration and first performances through her through her sensational 2023-2024 Eras Tour
A full discography of Taylor’s music, including the significance of each album personally and professionally, the meaning behind every Track 5, and all the hidden Easter eggs and symbolism behind the songs.
Swiftology, or Taylor A to Z, covering significant words, imagery, and people in Taylor’s life that every Swiftie should know, from arm poetry to maple lattes, and polaroids to Zoë Kravitz
Taylorscopes for every sign, to find out how your stars align with Swift’s music, and learn which Taylor song represents you

Both a tribute to our beloved Tay and a chic showpiece for any well-appointed bookshelf, Taylor Swift Is Life is a must-have title for every true Swiftie.

#Review By Lou of The Shame By Maureen Myant @maureenmyant @HobeckBooks #ScottishNoir #CrimeFiction

The Shame
By Maureen Myant

What links Glasgow and Edinburgh in cracking Scottish Noir book, The Shame? You’ll need to find out when you read the book, but for now, here’s the blurb and my review below, thanks to Hobeck Books for inviting me onto the blog tour.

Blurb

Glasgow
The cellar of a suburban bungalow has been hiding a dark secret. During building work, a skeleton is uncovered. DI Alex Scrimgeour and DS Mark Nicholson soon discover the remains have been there for sixty years. The owners of the house from that time, Richard and Doris Cavendish, are dead, but their daughter may still be alive.

Edinburgh
Edith Drummond is pleased to be back at work as a teacher after lockdown. She’s a difficult woman with no friends but she’s good at her job and the children love her. However, her Head Teacher, Olivia Waring, wants her to retire. Edith is determined to stay put, but their feud soon pales into insignificance when Edith receives a visit from the police.

Mark is sure Edith is hiding something, but he doesn’t know what. His suspicion deepens when further remains are found at the bungalow in Glasgow, this time of a newborn baby. Despite dealing with his own personal problems, Mark is determined to get to the bottom of this bizarre case. Is there a link between the two crimes? Is the answer staring him In the face or is there more to the mystery than meets the eye?

Review

An eerie atmosphere lingers over Glasgow, when 2 bodies of people who were once the owners, are discovered. It makes the spine tingle, but there’s also sense of sadness and a desire to read on to see what happened.

Edith Drummond in Edinburgh is, not exactly a great person for other adult’s to be around, but the kids she teaches thinks she’s great. She should be a great asset to the school, a teacher who’s loved by her class. The head teacher thinks otherwise. In a small part, it put me in mind of Miss Jean Brodie and how her kids adored her, but the head was on her case to oust her and knew how to respond. Edith knows how to respond to her head teacher.

What’s the connection between Edith and the bungalow in Glasgow? It’ll keep you guessing. DI Alex Scrimgeour and DS Mark Nicholson are sure they need to dig around and find out what truths Edith may be hiding. Readers can also uncover what sort of life Edith led, including her upbringing, which is interesting.

Reading about the personal lives of the police is often interesting, when it comes to their domestic situations, especially, so it’s good there’s some of this as well as the case.

The Shame concludes in a most un-anticipated manner.

#Review By Lou of Traitor By Chris Ryan @ChrisRyanMM @ZaffreBooks @RandomTTours #BlogTour #Thriller #Traitor #MillitaryThriller #SASThriller

Traitor
By Chris Ryan

Traitor is a stand-alone SAS thriller, so perfect for whether, like me, you are new to Chris Ryan’s books or have read any of his books before. : Chris Ryan is dubbed the original SAS fiction hero, selling over 5 million copies of his military thrillers. He has lots of first hand experience of being in the real SAS. You can find more about this in the bio after my review.
I am thrilled to present my review of Traitor as part of the Random T. Tours/Zaffre Books blog tour.

Blurb

A year after his older brother made the ultimate sacrifice, Sergeant Major
Luke Carter, decorated hero of 22 SAS, is sent to Perth on a recruiting job.
His orders: select two candidates from the SASR for a highly sensitive
mission on foreign soil.
But when a sudden crisis threatens to derail the plan, Carter and his new
colleagues find themselves forced into action on a high-stakes operation.
One that has the potential to change the course of the war in Ukraine.
So begins a deadly game of predator and prey, moving from the streets of
Minsk to the cliffs above the Black Sea. And a final showdown with the
biggest target of all…

Review

Sergeant Major Luke Carter is the main character who has to pull together the best team possible, but for what reason? He doesn’t really know. Armed with very little information, apart from he has to travel to Australia to choose two candidates from the SASR for a mission. There’s the question of the sizzle, what’s the sizzle? You’ll have to read to find out. Even Sergeant Major Luke Carter has to work it out.

The air of mystery and trepidation is intense. The stakes are high and it can be felt as the writing builds atmosphere.
As the mission begins, the book become more involving and gripping. It is increasingly insightful and thought-provoking as it makes you think about the conflicts happening across the world today.

It’s a cracking military thriller!

About the Author

In 1984 he joined 22 SAS. After completing the year-long Alpine Guides
Course, he was the troop guide for B Squadron Mountain Troop. He completed three tours with the anti-terrorist team, serving as an assaulter, sniper and finally Sniper Team Commander.

Chris was part of the SAS eight-man team chosen for the famous Bravo Two Zero mission during the 1991 Gulf War. He was the only member of the unit to escape from Iraq, where three of his colleagues were killed and four captured, for which he was awarded the Military Medal.
Chris wrote about
his experiences in his book The One That Got Away, which became an
immediate bestseller. Since then he has written over fifty books and
presented a number of very successful TV programmes.

#Review By Lou of The Burning By Robert Derry @RGD48649604 @RandomTTours #TheBurning

The Burning
By Robert Derry

The Burning isn’t my usual type of read, but I am glad to have received this mysterious horror that mixes the modern with the historical for the blog tour. Here’s the blurb and then my review below that:

Blurb

To the Mountford family, it was their very own chocolate-box cottage, set deep in the folds of the English countryside. Their sumptuous second home, a nest egg for retirement, a secluded bolthole for times of trouble.
In March 2020, as London fell silent under the threat of Covid19, Tony Mountford made the snap decision to see out lockdown in the close confines of their charming country retreat, unconcerned that one mischievous ghost would be waiting for them. But something had changed as fear gripped the nation, and the very bones of their much-loved timber-framed holiday home now creaked to the footfall of more sinister steps. A new tenant has taken up residence within its thick stone walls, drawn from a time when the innocent had paid the price for ignorance as a Royal edict fanned the flames of fear across the shires of England.

Take care as you travel with them, for a chill wind is turning northward, and the embers are still burning.

Review

The Burning weaves readers between the times of witchcraft and times when Covid first hit the world. How they are connected is certainly imaginative as the two times collide in a serene area of England where the Mountford family have a second home. It’s easy to picture it all within the skilful writing.

Fact and fiction merge together to tell a compelling story. It becomes increasingly chilling as it goes on, but it starts with a Ouija board, found in a toybox.

After research, a history of witchcraft, witch trials, witch-hunters is uncovered.
Paranormal activity is also discovered and all is far from being benign as horrors happen.

Throughout the book, there are many twists and turns in what seems like a well-researched mysterious horror book.