#Excerpt #Extract of Hunter’s Christmas And Other Stories By Val Penny @valeriepenny @SpellBoundBks @reading_pr #HuntersChristmasAndOtherStories #CrimeFiction #ShortStories #Thriller #BlogTour

Today I am on the Reading Between The Lines Blog Tour for Hunter’s Christmas And Other Stories. I have kindly been given, by the author and publisher, the blurb, an excerpt and some beautiful pictures to whisk readers away to sunnier climes. With winter biting, crimes are committed and not the usual type nor by who you might expect. Probably the least likely candidate to strike anyone, sending DI Hunter on a quest to save Christmas. I know, it’s past Christmas now, but it still would be a great wintry read that takes you to different locations with sunny skies, with enthralling mysteries that weave revenge, power, family and more into them. Discover more in the blurb and then be transported to Venice as you read a bit from the book to whet your reading appetite for a bedtime read or for a moment of quiet downtime. It’s great for dipping in and out of.

BLURB

DI Hunter Wilson is looking forward to spending a holiday in India with his girlfriend Dr Meera Sharma, away from the cold, wet winter of Edinburgh. He looks to share his happiness with others when he is attacked by Santa Claus, he says.

His team swing into action to catch his attackers but then receive information about an elf found dead in a car park and a car stolen by Mrs Claus.

Are the crimes by these Christmas characters connected?

Can Hunter’s team restore peace and good will to Christmas?

Hunter’s Christmas and Other Stories includes tales about DI Hunter Wilson and DS Jane Renwick along with those about new and different characters in this gripping collection of short stories especially for crime fiction readers.

So, sit back and relax into picturesque Venice of canals, historic bridges as you read a bit from the book itself as you meet old friends and make some new who have a crime to solve.

Extract/Excerpt

Hunter’s Christmas – from Visit to Venice

When he noticed her looking at him there was a glimmer of recognition, but he clearly couldn’t place her.

She said, “I think we’re staying at the same hotel.”

“Ah yes. Wondered where I remembered you from. Do you have a nice room?”

“It’s fine. It suits my needs. I just sleep there. I want to see as much of the city as I can, while I can.”

“I know what you mean, there’ s so much to see. And so little time.” He added. “Holidays are always too short, aren’t they? I’m Ted, Ted Davies, by the way.” He smiled at her. The smile shone from his eyes, and she couldn’t help reciprocating.

Just then the waiter brought her breakfast and his coffee. She watched as Ted added more sugar than she thought would dissolve in the cup and stirred it slowly. He should be better eating something, rather than taking in those empty calories. She always said that to Cecil and was about to offer Ted her pearls of wisdom, but he turned his head and looked out of the window. He smiled and waved at a little boy who passed, and the child waved back. This brought their conversation to an end, but she did notice him add yet more sugar to his coffee before he drank it.

Margory sipped her coffee and stared at her wish list of places to revisit; it included nowhere she hadn’t been before. That wasn’t the point of this trip at all. There were many places she and Cecil visited in Venice that they wanted to visit again, so she dug into her bag to get a pen and mark up the list. She didn’t notice the young man leave.

The first highlight of today was to be time at the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, so she settled her bill, left a more than generous tip and patted her bag before leaving the café and walking along the street to join the line to wait for the vaporetto. This would take her towards San Marco. She enjoyed being back among the canals, familiar buildings and hearing Italian spoken again. She was sorry her spoken Italian wasn’t better, but she understood most of what she heard and could read the language well.

At San Toma, she alighted and took a few photographs before realising there was no point. She had nobody to share them with, and she would never look at them again. A tear trickled down her cheek.

Margory brushed it away angrily and turned towards the Basilica. It was just as outstandingly beautiful as she had remembered. This building dated back to the thirteenth century, and that fact alone took her breath away. She bought her entry ticket but shunned joining any of the groups being taken around to have the art works explained to them. Cecil’s medical expertise had allowed them to travel the world as he lectured at conferences. He became a fount of knowledge about art too and explained the intricacies of Venetian art to her often over the years. She didn’t need a twenty-something year old art undergraduate telling her about the polyptych in the sacristy. They would have learned the history of the piece commissioned from the painter Giovanni Bellini by the three sons of Pietro Pesaro, by rote. She and Cecil knew this piece and he admired every inch of it with his soul. She felt the delight build as she stood with him to enjoy it.

Did these thoughts make her sound snobbish? Probably. She didn’t care. Cecil had broken her heart and now nobody else could touch her.

Almost two hours later she left the Basilica and made her way to the Rialto Bridge. It was busy. All the little shops were bustling with tourists and the lines to wait for a ride in a gondola were longer than she had anticipated. She sighed and debated with herself whether to wait or have an early lunch.

On balance she decided the queues in the afternoon would be even longer, so she decided to wait. A gondola ride now cost almost a hundred euros: the first time she and Cecil visited the city it was only a tenth of that, and the currency had been counted in lire, not euros. Everything changed and she didn’t think it had all been for the better.

Well, of course it wasn’t, or they would be in that gondola or at home in Devon watching A Move to the Country. Oh Cecil. She began to cry soft tears again and patted her bag. The littlest child from the young family in front of her noticed. He could have been no more than four. The boy took her hand and gave it a slobbery wet kiss and said something too softly for her to hear. Still, she understood the sentiment and it helped. His mother pulled him away to keep up with those in the queue ahead of them, but he caught her eye again and smiled.

#Review By Lou of The Dirty Dozen By Lynda La Plante @LaPlanteLynda @simonschusterUK @Tr4cyF3nt0n #TeamTennison #CrimeFiction #TheDirtyDozen

The Dirty Dozen
By Lynda La Plante

Another great book from Lynda La Plante as we go on the journey of how her most famous creation, Jane Tennison progresses in her career, from where it all began. This is book 5 and followers of these reviews will know I have the privilege of reading and reviewing the entire series. Find out more in the blurb and my review below.

Blurb

Jane Tennison has worked hard to become the first female detective ever post to the infamous Flying Squad, or ‘the Sweeney’. But the Dirty Dozen is a notorious boys’ club, and Jane’s new colleagues make it clear that they don’t think a woman is up to the dangers of the job. Dealing with some of London’s most ruthless armed criminals, who think the only good cop is a dead cop, is no joke. Determined to prove she’s as good as the men, Jane discovers from a reliable witness that a gang is going to carry out a massive robbery. Tennison doesn’t know who they are or where they will strike. And with time fast running out, she must put everything on the line to stop them – including her own life . . .

Review

The intensity of the times with certain attitudes and ways of working and mystery is woven well together. Jane Tennison has a lot to prove and is closely observed by her work team in The Flying Squad/ The Sweeney. They’ve not had a woman being posted to such a position before and the male testosterone is out in force. Alright, I can hear women scream at the attitudes, but that’s how it was back then and women had to work even harder than now to get into different sectors and areas of work. The fact of the matter is, it all feels authentic. You see how she tries to win her colleagues round, but the question is whether they’ll respect her in the end or not?
I will say it’s an interesting career journey she is on as is her personal one, how you see her grow in confidence in situations and growing up and maturing in general.

The streets of London are becoming more dangerous and trying to predict where the next crime is going to happen is hard, even for the reader, which makes it an intriguing read. The tension is there with the criminal gangs being armed and ready to fire at any police officer. They’re ruthless and with everything laid on the line for the police, you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens…

#Review By Lou of The Christmas Appeal By Janice Hallett @JaniceHallett @ViperBooks

The Christmas Appeal
By Janice Hallett

Janice Hallett has had great success with The Appeal, The Twyford Files and The Alperton Angels. Now there is The Christmas Appeal. Perfect for spending those Christmas book vouchers on. “Oh yes it is!” This has pantomime with the twistiest of twists. Shimmying up the beanstalk is more hazardous than you’d think and that’s only part of it…

Blurb

One dead Santa. A town full of suspects. Will you discover the truth? Christmas in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, to raise money for the church roof appeal. But despite the season, goodwill is distinctly lacking amongst the amateur dramatics enthusiasts. Sarah-Jane is fending off threats to her new position as Chair, the fibreglass beanstalk might be full of asbestos, and a someone is intent on ruining the panto even before the curtain goes up. Of course there’s also the matter of the dead body. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list? Join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they read the round robins, examine the emails and pore over the police transcripts.

Review

Christmas is over, but its still holiday time, with that festive feel all around and pantos go on with the show, bringing their unique entertainment, but how can Santa be Dead? There’s a sinister edge to the backdrop of the fun and frolics of Christmas. Enter and allow theatrics to consume you until the last page.
Amateur dramatics is cut-throat and no more so when Panto season is around. The Fairways are putting on Jack and the Beanstalk in 2022 as it would have been performed in the 1970’s. Along the way, there are major power struggles and rivalries, even though the production is supposed to be raising money for a good cause. The spirit of good will and good nature doesn’t always flow easily through everyone to get a project done for the greater good of a community. A certain mood is captured rather well.
There’s a mystery that ensues and some twists and turns along the way of this book that has everything from WhatsApp messages to emails and more, to follow through to search for the clues and learn what’s really been going on during what should have been a pleasurable, successful time.

It’s quite a different book with a Christmas theme to keep readers guessing what’s going to happen next in what is a darker side to the festive season.

#Review By Lou of An Invitation To Seashell Bay: Part 1 By Bella Osborne @osborne_bella @AvonBooks

An Invitation to Seashell Bay
By Bella Osborne

Remind yourselves of those long hazy, heat-driven days of summer full of hope and possibility for world out doors as you cosy into the feel-good rom-com.

Blurb

This is the first part of a new feel-good romantic comedy, published as a four-part serialised novel.

*****************************************************

One ambitious businesswoman.

One irresponsible heir.

A deal that will turn both their lives upside down…

To save her business, All Things Crafty, Nancy is in desperate need of two things: help and money. After a pitch goes horribly wrong, Nancy is convinced she’s failed to secure either. But, when a potential investor recommends an assistant, she jumps at the chance to hire them – hoping it will help her land a much-needed deal.

Enter Freddy Astley-Davenport, a notorious socialite with zero work experience. He’s poised to inherit his family’s estate in sunny Seashell Bay, but only if he can hold down a job for six months first. Nancy is not impressed. Freddy’s late, rude and totally incompetent – and that’s just the first day!

Nancy is further horrified to learn of Freddy’s plan to take the assistant role in name only, then do the least work he possibly can, expecting Nancy to lie to his parents on his behalf. She has other ideas, though, and the pair butt heads from day one.

However, as they argue, sparks begin to fly…

An absolutely escapist, funny, feel-good summer romance. Fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson will adore Bella Osborne.

Review

Perfect for shutting out the cold, dank, dark days of winter and transporting yourself back into summer, it’s well worth taking up your Invitation To Seashell Bay.

Freddy Astley-Davenport comes across as that self-righteous, privileged heir. He’s actually an interesting character to explore. There are plenty of people around who think they know it all without having the experience, so this makes him relatable too, in a way. He may well frustrate, with the type of personality he has, but I feel this truly works, to the extent you want to know his outcome.

Nancy’s business is struggling, which then brings in Freddy.
Arguments ensue and take readers on a bit of a rollercoaster of a read to see what’s going to come next in their lives. There’s quite a bit of humour to be had too, which lightens things up a bit.

#Review By Lou of The Repair Shop – Life In The Barn By Elizabeth Wilhide; Jayne Dowle Foreword by Jay Blades #ElizabethWilhide @JayneDowle @jayblades_ @Octopus_Books #TheRepairShop #NonFiction

The Repair Shop – Life In The Barn
By Elizabeth Wilhide; Jayne Dowle
Foreword By Jay Blades

The Repair Shop, a favourite BBC show for millions of us, it burst onto our screens in the UK around March 2017. It has been a go to tv choice ever since, with its main presenter – Jay Blades at the helm, the excellent expertise and craftsmanship by the rest of the workers (with Jay assisting them at times), their warmth, calmness and cosiness and the emotional stories and the origins of other people’s belongings, the reasons behind wanting various items repaired, the reactions is a winning combination. Now there’s a book with a Foreword by Jay Blades. Discover the blurb and my review below.

‘Heartwarming, magical and uplifting’

In today’s throwaway culture, there’s a counter movement growing that urges us to ‘make do and mend’. The BBC’s The Repair Shop has brought this waste-conscious message to an even wider audience, with its regular viewing figures of 7 million in the UK alone, cementing itself as a classic series in the vein of Antiques Roadshow.

This new book concentrates on the show’s much-loved experts, including woodworker and furniture restorer Will Kirk, clock restorer Steve Fletcher, metalworker Dominic Chinea, silversmith Brenton West, leatherworker Suzie Fletcher, upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary, and seamstresses Julie Tatchell & Amanda Middleditch – aka The Teddy Bear Ladies. Each of the experts shares their own stories and their repairs, capturing in the process the magic and ethos of the barn. Includes quotations and Q & As from the experts as well as Jay Blades on some unique restoration collaborations.

With the focus on the experts themselves, readers will feel as though they’re stepping straight into the ‘workshop of dreams’ and experiencing first hand the magic of the barn.

Review

I love The Repair Shop, everything about it amazes me. The warmth that oozes from it to people mending things that are broken or well worn, I am in awe of it all and wonder where in the world did they learn their craft. I also wonder if I have anything they’d like to repair with sentimental value and if I’d be brave enough to write in, but that’s another story entirely.

This book oozes the same care and attention and love that the tv show does. It has many stories of life inside the barn from the experts. You can learn more about their expertise and the items for repair. It’s a fascinating, insightful book for anyone who would like to know more about this special shed that has flung its wide open for you to enter through this book. It might even answer people’s burning questions as the experts have put together a Q&A section. The experts the book really focuses on is woodworker and furniture restorer Will Kirk, clock restorer Steve Fletcher, metalworker Dominic Chinea, silversmith Brenton West, leatherworker Suzie Fletcher, upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary, and seamstresses Julie Tatchell & Amanda Middleditch – aka The Teddy Bear Ladies. It is a book you can dip in and out of and easily keep going back to

It would make a delightful present for someone or a treat for yourself for anyone who is intrigued to know what life is like for the experts in the impressive Repair Shop barn.

#Review of Dark Truth – A Joe Wilde Investigation By C.D. Steele @BookGuild #CrimeFiction #PrivateInvestigatorFiction #CrimeTrilogy #JoeWildeInvestigation

Dark Truth
By C.D. Steele

It started with False Truth and now there’s the stunning page-turner of a second book in Dark Truth. Discover the blurb and my review below. Thanks to Christopher Steele for requesting an honest review.

Blurb

‘Dark Truth’, the second in a series of three novels, is a suspenseful mystery thriller full of intrigue that will leave you guessing right until the very end. Private investigator Joe Wilde is hired by Tom and Marie Archer to investigate the disappearance of their six-year-old daughter Laura. Joe also takes on an unusual case for a client by the name of Jack Riley. Jack believes he was framed to make it look like he was cheating on his fiancée Claire Brooks. Claire has been the target of disturbing vandalism. As Joe helps the police investigate Laura’s disappearance, he uncovers disturbing secrets concerning the Archers and some of their neighbours. Meanwhile the attacks on Claire become more extreme. Fearing for her life, Claire also hires Joe. As Joe continues to investigate, he puts himself in great danger.

Review

Dark Truth is intensely chilling from the start, with someone creeping upon his victim. From there, the chapters are short and snappy. Personally, I’m rather enjoying this style and it works well for this book.

As the story builds about what is happening to Claire, it is spine-tingling how she died and how technology is used. It tells the dark side of how people use it and how twisted some relationships can become.

DCI Whelan and P.I. Joe Wilde have a challenging working relationship, where info isn’t always being passed on. It’s a type of working relationship that will be familiar to many in, at least certain sectors. The exposing it in this book is interesting and it is quite a change from colleagues just rubbing along. The tensions are there for all to see and feel. It’s clever as Dark Truth then doesn’t solely focus on the crimes, it also delves into the darker side of certain personality types.

As much as False Truth, the first book, was very compelling and well-written, this one exceeds it. It’s tightly written and an excellent page-turner.