How do you solve a murder when you’re shut out of the investigation?

Young detectives, Robinson Ellington Foxe and Amy Kennard, don’t want to work at Coventry’s Moat Lane police station.  Neither do their colleagues want them there. But it’s the last chance for two officers for whom doing the right thing has cost them their futures.

Despite a murder on their patch, they are lumbered with investigating a series of high-profile burglaries. But when a thief is killed in the house of an influential businessman, Foxe and Kennard are convinced it is linked to their cases and want in.

The official investigation is a whitewash, but Robbie and Amy keep investigating anyway.  As they uncover a web of deceit and corruption, reaching to the very top of the force, their own difficult histories are weaponised against them, and they find themselves fighting for their careers and their lives.

My Review:

DCI Warren is still one of my favourite police procedurals, as it mixes solid mysteries with intriguing and moving personal stories.

I was very excited to read this first instalment in this new series and I wasn’t disappointed.

Foxe and Kennard are a pair of well‑fleshed, solid characters who grew on me, and I appreciated both their integrity and their way of investigating.

There is a lot of potential here, and I am sure there will be plenty of character development and stories that become more and more intriguing.

So go, read this one, as it is gripping and entertaining.

Highly recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.

Paul Gitsham is the author of the Foxe and Kennard British detective series, the DCI Warren Jones series and the standalone domestic thriller, The Aftermath.

Brought up in Coventry, he started his career as a biologist. After gaining a PhD in molecular biology, he worked in laboratories in Manchester and Toronto, before retraining as a science teacher. Along the way he had spells as the world’s most over-qualified receptionist and spent time working for a major UK bank, ensuring that terrorists, foreign dictators and other international ne’er do wells hadn’t embarrassed the institution by managing to deposit their ill-gotten gains in a Children’s Trust Fund.

Paul’s final school reports from primary school said that he would never achieve anything if his handwriting didn’t improve. A somewhat kinder note urged him to become the next Roald Dahl. If anything, his handwriting has got worse and unless Mr Dahl also wrote police procedurals under a pseudonym, he has failed on both counts.

Paul is a member of the Crime Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers organisation and lives with his wife in the West Midlands in a house with more books than shelf space.

Social Media Links:

Instagram/Threads @paulgitsham

Facebook@dcijones (Appears as Paul Gitsham Author)

X/Twitter @dcijoneswriter

The Fatal Farandoleis a cozy mystery full of plot twists and small-town secrets. It’s perfect for fans of character-driven crime novels with emotional depth.

A beloved Provençal festival.
A murderous conspiracy.
A bullfighter who knows too much.

When two local chefs are killed within a week, shockwaves ripple through the region’s tight-knit culinary world.

Suspicion lands squarely on baker Julie Cavallo.

As whispers turn to accusations, her eccentric family closes ranks, and her loyal friends rally to her side.

But Julie’s running out of time. Her pastry shop is at risk. Her love life is unraveling. The gendarmes are tracking her every move. Julie can’t afford to wait for the official investigation to uncover the truth. Her instincts go into overdrive. Dots connect. Patterns appear…

Can Julie make it through this case, when asking the right questions has already gotten others killed?

Ana T. Drew is the evil mastermind behind a recent string of murders in the fictional French town of Beldoc. A first-place winner of the Chanticleer MYSTERY & MAYHEM Awards, her books have been released in several languages, both independently and through traditional houses, including HarperCollins France and Straarup & Co.

When she’s not plotting mysteries, Ana can be found perfecting her low-carb cookie recipes or watching The Rookie to cope with the void left by Castle.

Ana lives in Paris with her husband and their dog, but her heart resides in Provence.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.ana-drew.com

Facebook: facebook.com/AnaDrewAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/anadrew  

My Review:

This is the sixteenth novel in this series and there is no sign of weariness or any decrease in quality. This instalment is as compelling and gripping as the first one I read.
There are many changes in Eve’s life, there is love, and she is becoming a better detective with each new story.
A solid, twisty and highly entertaining mystery, and I loved it as usual.
Highly recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.

Clare Chase writes classic mysteries. Her aim is to take readers away from it all via some armchair sleuthing in atmospheric locations.

Like her heroines, Clare is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in settings as diverse as Littlehey Prison and the University of Cambridge, in her home city. She’s lived everywhere from the house of a lord to a slug-infested flat and finds the mid-terrace she currently occupies a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.

My Review:

All’s Fae in Love and War is exactly the book you want when life feels heavy. If you are stressed, tired or simply done with reality, this story gives you a cozy world that welcomes you in and lets you breathe. The world building is lovely and vivid, the kind that makes you wish you could step inside for an afternoon and stay for tea.
The chemistry between the two main characters is charming and full of spark. Their banter has the right level of humour, light enough to make you grin but still warm and sincere. The plot moves with confidence and never loses its heart. It made me smile, root for the characters and enjoy every moment without effort.
A fun, comforting read that lifts your mood and leaves you feeling lighter.
Recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Rock and roll relationships are complicated. They’re even worse when one of you is a werewolf.

Stevie Vane, nightclub manager of Dusk, prefers London’s nightlife to life in the pack — fewer claws, fewer challengers, far less bloodshed.

But when tragedy strikes, Stevie is forced back into a world where dominance of the pack is won by strength… and every weakness is punished. Some new members begin a brutal contest for control, and they soon discover his greatest weakness is Kat Matthews.

Kat’s band has just landed the best gig of their career at Dusk. And the instant chemistry between her and the charismatic manager is undeniable — but so are the secrets he’s keeping. Secrets that come with sharp teeth.

As the rival wolves close in and old grudges resurface, Stevie realises it isn’t just his pack at risk. It’s the woman he loves.

Witty, romantic, and gripping, Bad Moon Rising is the third book in The Immortalsof London series– where feelings run wild and loyalty can cost you everything.

My Review:

Bad Moon Raising by Berni Stevens is an engaging paranormal romance that blends danger, emotion and a vivid sense of place. I enjoyed how the story moves between the pulse of London nightlife and the ruthless world of the pack, creating a sharp contrast that suits Stevie perfectly. He is a compelling lead, torn between the life he built at Dusk and the violent politics waiting for him at home. Kat brings warmth, music and a grounded charm, and their chemistry feels immediate and sincere.

The rising tension inside the pack keeps the pace tight, and the return of old grudges adds real weight to Stevie’s choices. Even if I truly enjoyed the novel, a touch more humour would have made it even better, adding extra sparkle to an already strong romance filled with heart and risk.

Recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Berni Stevens lives in an ancient cottage in Hertfordshire, which sounds like it’s in the depths of the countryside, but really isn’t (because the green bits keep getting built on!)

Berni spent four years at art college in Sussex before starting her first job in publishing as a book cover and promotions designer and then solely as a book cover designer for many of the big London publishers. She’s now freelance, and designs for both publishers and many self-published authors. Although she still makes sure to leave time for her writing, and various hobbies. Berni was a finalist for the RNA Cover Designer of the Year Award both in 2021 and 2023.

Berni’s first full-length novel was a paranormal romance, called Fledgling, which was first published in the US in 2011, and retitled Dance Until Dawn, made its UK debut three years later, followed by the sequel, Revenge is Sweet and so beginning the Immortals of London series.

Veering away from the paranormal for a while, Berni’s first festive RomCom, One Magical Christmas, took some people by surprise – including herself. So much so, that she wrote three more!

With the re-appearance of the Romantasy genre … a new paranormal romance has finally broken free – Bad Moon Rising – the third book in the Immortals of London series.

Berni can be found on Facebook, X, Linkedin, Instagram and Threads … come and say hello!

https://x.com/Berni_Stevens1

Purchase Links

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK: https://books2read.com/u/mYJzVp

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXJDKJQ3

APPLE BOOKS: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-haunting-of-willows-cottage/id6754550008

BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-of-willows-cottage-isobel-blackthorn/1148696029?ean=2940182364515

GOOGLE BOOKS: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=laCSEQAAQBAJ

RAKUTEN KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/the-haunting-of-willows-cottage

My Review:

The Haunting of Willows Cottage brings the Strathbairn Trilogy to a thoughtful and atmospheric close. The story blends a gentle historical setting with a genuine sense of unease, creating a world where emotional tension and supernatural threat sit side by side. Ingrid’s return to the Highlands feels grounded and believable, and her desire to build a safe life for herself and her daughter gives the novel a steady emotional core.

The haunting at Willows Cottage is handled with restraint. It never overwhelms the narrative, yet it adds a constant pressure that keeps the pages turning. The ghostly presence is tied to the land and to the past, and this connection enriches the story rather than distracting from it. The relationships around Ingrid are equally important. Her complicated history with Hamish, her uneasy dependence on Gertrude, and the quiet sincerity of Timothy all create a web of choices that feel both personal and inevitable.

The Highlands setting is one of the book’s strengths. The landscape shapes the mood without becoming heavy. The writing remains clear and accessible, and the pacing is steady, allowing the emotional and supernatural threads to unfold naturally.

A satisfying conclusion for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mystery and a hint of the uncanny.

Highly recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Isobel Blackthorn is an award-winning author of immersive and inspiring fiction. She has penned over twenty-five books including a number of bestsellers. She majors in strong female leads and empowerment narratives.

Among her credits, Isobel’s biographical short story ‘Nothing to Declare’, which forms the first chapter of her biographical novel Emma’s Tapestry, was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. One of her Canary Islands novels, A Prison in the Sun, was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards 2020 and the International Book Awards 2021. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018. And The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader’s Favorite Book Awards.

Blackthorn is the author of the world’s only biography of Theosophist and mother of the New Age movement Alice Bailey – Alice A. Bailey: Life & Legacy.

Isobel has a background in Western Esotericism. She holds 1st Class Honours in Social Studies, and a PhD from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking research on the works of Alice A. Bailey. Her doctoral thesis has been downloaded over 13,000 times.

Isobel’s first work, which she wrote in 2008, is Voltaire’s Garden. This memoir is set in the mid 2000s and tells the story of building a sustainable lifestyle B&B in Cobargo on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia, which gained international attention when a firestorm razed the idyllic historic village on New Year’s Eve 2019.

Isobel’s writing has appeared in journals and websites around the world, including Esoteric Quarterly, New Dawn Magazine, Paranoia, Mused Literary Review, Trip Fiction, Backhand Stories, Fictive Dream and On Line Opinion. Isobel was a judge for the Australasian Shadow Awards 2020 long fiction category. Her book reviews have appeared in New Dawn Magazine, Esoteric Quarterly, Shiny New Books, Sisters in Crime, Australian Women Writers, Trip Fiction and Newtown Review of Books.

Isobel’s interests are many and varied. She has a long-standing association with the Canary Islands, having lived in Lanzarote in the late 1980s. A humanitarian and campaigner for social justice, in 1999 Isobel founded the internationally acclaimed Ghana Link, uniting two high schools, one a relatively privileged state school located in the heart of England, the other a materially impoverished school in a remote part of the Upper Volta region of Ghana, West Africa. After working as a teacher, market trader and PA to a literary agent, she arrived at writing in her forties, and her stories are as diverse and intriguing as her life has been.

Isobel has performed her literary works at events in a range of settings and given workshops in creative writing.

British by birth, Isobel entered this world in Farnborough, Kent, UK. She has lived in England, Australia, Spain and the Canary Islands. She now lives and writes in Spain. She is currently at work on two novels composed in Spanish.

Purchase Links

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GRH9N26Ysocial

My Review:

“Cozy mystery adiacent” is the way mysteries that features cozy elements but are darker or do not reflects all the canon. This is a cozy mystery adiacent but the definition is purely technical as it’s a hell of funny and quirky novel that kept me hooked and turning pages.

Quirky characters, strong women, friendship and murder. A group of people who are interested in serial killer, a quirky lady who moves on a mobility scooter.

A murder story full of twists, surprises and not a exactly a standard bakery+gardening group of ladies.

Loved it, had fun and read it in an afternoon.

Well done, very entertaining.

Highly recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Tracy started writing when her cruel, heartless husband ripped her away from her dream job – shopping for rollercoasters for the UK’s leading theme parks – to live in America with a brand new baby and no mates. In a cunning plan to avoid domestic duties and people who didn’t understand her Derbyshire accent, she wrote NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY.
It went on to become a No 1 bestseller and publishing phenomenon. So now Tracy has a new dream job, making people laugh and sometimes cry through her writing and has had many more novels published successfully around the world. She now lives back in Derbyshire with her now wonderful husband and two children!

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/maggie-allswell

Deflated balloons on the floor. Sandwiches curling on plates. The evidence of a normal birthday party a shocking contrast to the bodies of the mother and her twelve-year-old daughter lying on their beds, their secret taken to the grave…

When Detective Lottie Parker arrives at the devastating scene the day after Freya Healey’s birthday party, a wave of sorrow overcomes her. Holding Freya’s cold white hand, she vows to find justice for her and her parents lying dead in the next room, killed just after the last guest had gone.

Determined to solve this terrible crime, Lottie rushes to interview the party guests, including Freya’s best friend Lily. Shy and tearful, the little girl is unwilling to talk about Freya and her parents, at least in front of her over-protective mother. But when her mother reveals that Lily changed her mind about sleeping over at the Healeys at the last minute on the night they were killed, she feels certain that she is hiding something crucial…

The next morning, she is shocked to receive a phone call from Lily’s terrified mother. Lily has been stolen from her home – could the Healey family secret have something to do with her disappearance?

Digging deeper, desperate for answers, Lottie discovers a connection between Lily’s father and Freya’s mother that chills her to the bone. Do both families hide dark secrets? What evidence can she trust and who is lying to her? And can she find the truth before another innocent little girl is lost forever?

A totally addictive page-turner from bestselling author Patricia Gibney. If you like Rachel McLean, Kendra Elliott and Robert Dugoni, After the Party will have you hooked.

Purchase Links

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GMJ9MZ7Ksocial

My Review:

Patricia is the multi-million copy bestselling author of the Detective Lottie Parker series.

She started writing following the death of her husband, Aidan. Writing in the crime genre came naturally as that’s what she mainly loves to read.

Patricia lives in the beautiful lake county of Westmeath, in the Irish midlands, close to her three adult children and their families. This is the place where she loves to walk, write and paints.

Social Media Links :

• Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/patricia-gibney
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trisha460/
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Beyond the village of Raven’s Edge stands the Gateway to the Dead – a crumbling stone arch marking the site where a long-ago battle raged and the dead were buried where they fell. But it’s the forgotten mansion hidden in the trees behind it that holds the real mystery…

Lady Peony has lived at Blackheath Hall for decades, invisible to the world – until a ghostly soldier begins knocking at her door. But Lady Peony is no fool. In her experience, where there are spirits, there are schemers. And someone wants her out of that house.

As DI Ben Taylor and DS Harriet March begin their investigation, bitter winds howl through Raven’s Edge and strange mists curl around the battle site. Harriet must untangle what’s real from what’s imagined. Is there truly a ghost haunting the old house, or is someone very much alive using supernatural tales as cover for their own deadly agenda?

Atmospheric, chilling and deliciously gothic, this cosy mystery wraps ancient legends and murder into one unputdownable story. Perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch, Agatha Christie and readers who like their crime with a shiver down the spine!

My Review:

I was wondering when a new Raven’s Edge was going to be published and here it was: another novel in this series that mixes gothic themes, small village, some romance, and quirky and original characters.

I think that the mix is what keeps me reading and turning pages. I have fun and I’m always wondering if it’s paranormal or just some well done tricks.

This is the best so far, more character development, a complex and intriguing mystery that I found very entertaining.

Let’s about a new one soon.

Highly recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Most of my stories are set in small villages filled with quirky characters. These are partly inspired by the places I’ve lived in over the years, although the characters are straight out of my imagination! I currently live in Wales, close to a famous library and two ruined castles. My husband thinks we moved here by accident.

My first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg’s Write a Bestseller competition. As well as ten novels, I’ve written short stories for women’s magazines. Before becoming a full-time writer, I worked as an administrative officer for the police.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy visiting big old houses, which I use as inspiration for the houses in my novels, and reading other people’s books when I ought to be writing my own…

www.ravens-edge.co.uk

www.louisemarley.co.uk

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMarleyAuthor

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMarley/

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Threads: https://www.threads.com/@louisemarleywrites

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/louisemarley.bsky.social

A single battle will decide the fate of humanity…

Before the enemy struck at Midway Station, Jim Garrett had never captained an active warship. Unexpectedly thrust into command, he now leads the most powerful task force in the Confederation.

As a deadly new mission approaches, Garrett knows every decision he makes could save billions of lives. Or end them in an instant.

Deep in enemy space lies a star system like no other. A hive of factories and construction platforms, it exists for a single purpose—to build the fleets sent to break and enslave humanity.

A decisive strike here would shatter the enemy’s ability to wage war on the Confederation. But Lima-66 is heavily defended. And there will be no second chances. Everything rides on a single throw of the dice.

Garrett knows he must execute his attack perfectly or watch as his fleet is torn apart, along with humanity’s hopes of survival.

But as his warships, fighters and marine dropships close in on the target, it becomes clear the enemy has been preparing a secret weapon… In the storm of battle, with his forces stretched to breaking point, Garrett must find a way to capture it, no matter the cost.

Off Indigo Station is an action-packed military science fiction adventure that’s perfect for fans of Jack Campbell, David Weber, and Marko Kloos.

Purchase Links

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0FTTH9GYJsocial

My Review:

Off Indigo Station delivers exactly the kind of classic sci‑fi energy I enjoy, and Marc Alan Edelheit does it with a confidence that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

This is a story built on advanced technology, colliding civilizations, and power games that twist and tighten with every chapter. What impressed me most is how naturally the world building unfolds. The station, the factions, the political tensions, the cultural fractures, everything feels lived‑in without ever becoming heavy. It is the sort of universe where every corridor hints at a larger history.

The characters are equally layered. No one moves in a straight line, and their loyalties shift with the same complexity as the alliances around them. I appreciated how Edelheit lets strength and vulnerability coexist, giving the cast a depth that matches the scale of the conflict. The battles are sharp, the stakes are high, and the sense of looming confrontation gives the narrative a steady pulse.

What really carries the novel, though, is the storytelling. It has that classic sci‑fi clarity, the kind that balances action with reflection, spectacle with strategy. The intelligence behind the plot is evident, yet the tone remains engaging and accessible. I finished the book with the pleasant feeling of having travelled through a world that is both immense and intimate, crafted with care and ambition. I can’t wait to read further novels in this series as there’s someone that’s even more fascinating in the future

Well done, highly recommended.

Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Social Media Links :

• Mailing List: https://secondskybooks.com/subscribe/marc-alan-edelheit
• Website: https://www.maenovels.com/
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