An Invitation to Murder-Normal Russell- Crime

(Originally published as Tongued with Fire.)

Lord Renfield is short of cash as ever but is determined to hang on to

the family estate. His plan along with his domineering wife is to marry

their daughter off to a wealthy American who is interested in the

English aristocracy. An old book has been found by a villager relating

to the house and village and the bookseller finds a letter within it which

may cast a shadow on the Renfields' hold on their inheritance. When

the bookseller is found dead, suspicion is cast but could this be a

lucky break for the titled family?

A story of murder and doubt with lots of twists and turns. This

reminded me of a “Miss Marple” type scenario where all the

characters know one another in a small village type setting and

there are lots of backstories and history adding to the suspense.

An entertaining read to keep the grey matter very active. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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AN INVITATION TO MURDER by Norman Russell

       “I always look forward to the next book by Norman Russell . . . One to read slowly, and savour like a fine wine.” MyShelf  

    “Crime, murder, debt, revenge, family, image, obsession, past impacting the present . . . so many emotions and motivations in this book!” Cathy

Originally published as Tongued with Fire.

____________________

Welcome to Oldminster, a quaint little town where there’s always a mystery to be solved. And even the murderers are dripping with old-world charm.

Carole Renfield, vixenish lady of Renfield Hall, is throwing a party.Things are looking up for her and husband Frank. A bookseller tried to swindle them out of their ancestral home. He thought it would be easy.Instead he is found dead in his shop. His head caved in by a tacky table-lamp.A stroke of luck for the Renfields?There is not a shred of evidence to suggest otherwise. Until the night of Lady Renfield’s party.Once again, murder comes calling at the Renfields’ door. And now one guest will never leave.With the party in full swing, a desperate scream tears through the house, and the Renfields’ daughter appears, covered in someone else’s blood.Is she as guilty as she looks?

____________________

Do you love Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie, Frances Lloyd, Catherine Moloney, Anthony Horowitz, or Ann Cleeves? Then you’re sure to be hooked on this dazzlingly clever homage to all the best mysteries of the Golden Age.

What everyone is saying about An Invitation to Murder:

       “With a plot containing blackmail, several murders, secondary characters who are more rounded than in many other novels, good pacing, and good style, this is a novel that I relished to the end.” Michael     

  “Enjoyed it immensely.” Aileen

       “This is a quality modern-day murder mystery but with an old-fashioned feel. Well written and entertaining with excellent characterization throughout, plenty of plot twists and turns . . . certainly more than enough for this reader at any rate. Authentic and engaging from first to last page. Highly recommended.” John

       “A fantastic mystery that is well written and has great characters. I loved this book and want to read more from this author.” Cristie

       “Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.” Heather

ALSO BY NORMAN RUSSELL

THE OLDMINSTER MYSTERIES

Book 1: AN INVITATION TO MURDER

NORMAN RUSSELL

Norman is an established novelist and academic writer, an MA of Jesus College, Oxford, and a PhD of Birkbeck College, University of London. An English specialist, he taught English for many years in a Liverpool comprehensive school before becoming a full-time writer. Norman has had over twenty novels published. He is a recognised authority on Victorian finance and its reflections in the 19th century novel, and his book on the subject, The Novelist and Mammon, was published by the Oxford University Press. Norman has also had three academic books of Roman Catholic interest published.

BOOKS BY NORMAN RUSSELL

COMING SOON!

FOLLOW NORMAN ON

GOODREADS

 

Angel's Final Problem? by Roger Silverwood- Crime

DI Angel has rather a problem on his hands. He has been accused of not

only a robbery but also of a murder and the evidence firmly puts him

in the frame. Despite those around him knowing he would never do

such things, when forensics have irrefutable confirmation of his

presence along with items found, Angel is put on suspension. He

decides doing nothing is not an issue and probably only going to

compound the matter so decides to go maverick and do his own

investigation with no warrent card or badge. Can he not only get

himself out of this rather large hole but also track down the real culprits?

I really enjoyed this. Angel is rather an old school type of chap-

(anyone younger would have taken pictures of the diary with their

phone and sent them on) but old school works in this case. He is a

likeable rogue with whom what you see is what you get- take him

as you find him type person who calls a spade a shovel. I

whizzed through this which to me is always a good sign- a good

plot and likeable characters to envelope you in a good story. 

This is one of a series but happily stands alone- I hadn't read all of the

others and it worked well. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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DETECTIVE ANGEL SERIES Book 1: THE MISSING NURSE Book 2: THE MISSING WIFE Book 3: THE MAN IN THE PINK SUIT Book 4: THE MORALS OF A MURDERER Book 5: THE AUCTION MURDERS Book 6: THE MISSING KILLER Book 7: THE UMBRELLA MURDERS Book 8: THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE Book 9: THE MISSING THIEF Book 10: FIND THE LADY Book 11: THE MISSING MODEL Book 12: MURDER IN BARE FEET Book 13: THE MISSING HUSBAND Book 14: THE CUCKOO CLOCK MURDERS Book 15: SHRINE TO MURDER Book 16: THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS Book 17: THE DOG COLLAR MURDERS Book 18: THE CHESHIRE CAT MURDERS Book 19: THE DIAMOND ROSARY MURDERS Book 20: THIRTEEN STEPS TO MURDER Book 21: THE FRUIT GUM MURDERS Book 22: THE MONEY TREE MURDERS Book 23: ANGEL AND THE ACTRESS Book 24: THE MURDER LIST Book 25: THE LIPSTICK MURDERS Book 26: THE MUSIC BOX MURDERS Book 27: MURDER ON TIME Book 28: ANGEL’S FINAL PROBLEM?

 

The Genesis Enquiry- Olly Jarvis- Legal thriller/mystery & crime  

“What a treat it is to read Olly Jarvis’s THE GENESIS INQUIRY: a compulsively

readable crime and legal thriller that pulls off the trick of being both satisfyingly

traditional and supremely up to the minute. In the attractive, cussed and

charismatic person of lawyer Ella Blake Jarvis has created a hero that we

can hope to see again. A real winner.”- Stephen Fry

Wow! A book to quickly become absorbed in and take you along for the ride. Ella

Blake ran away from her life when she lost a case three years ago. She has been

living in a campervan up and around Lindisfarne away from it all. Her daughter

Lizzie is at Cambridge and has had little contact with her. Ella is a QC and good

at what she does, or at least did. An old friend contacts her about finding a

missing person, not just anyone, a polymath from Cambridge and Ella sees

this as not only a chance to rejoin the human race but also to reach out to

her estranged daughter. The case quickly becomes dangerous and Ella has

to use all her resources to keep both her and Lizzie safe. I couldn’t help

but think of The Da Vinci Code- however this is a more up to date version

and much better in my humble opinion. I would love to see this as a drama or film.

I quickly became engrossed in this and there is a skill and technicality of

writing around an early legal issue which showcased Olly’s background as

a barrister. I rapidly took to Ella- a troubled woman but very much with

two feet on the ground and a tenacity to seek the truth. 

A book to very much keep the grey matter active ( just how I like it!) and

one for anyone enjoying a mystery, law and history combined with a

smattering of other subjects in the mix from astronomy to Socrates,

Plato and more. Stunning, thrilling and a whole lot more.

 

The Perfect Daughter by Alex Stone -psychological thriller

Jess and her mother are being interviewed after Adam, Jess’s boyfriend's car,

has been found over a cliff and no sign of Adam. Jess had met Adam, a

plumber, when she called him out for a repair. Jess’s mother Abigail is

controlling and domineering to the point of coercive control, telling Jess

all her life things such as “ what you want doesn’t matter” and blaming

her for her father leaving many years ago. Jess isn't allowed to mention

her father “ as then others will want to know what happened and what

you did”. Jess was close to her father and only knows that the marriage

was unhappy- something she blames herself for despite her being

a child at the time. Alternate chapters are “now” and “ then” when Jess and

Adam met and how their relationship was affected by Abigail.

Yes this type of person really does exist and whilst this is fiction, controlling

narcissistic personalities like this can control their offspring whilst the children

(of whatever age) have little idea of what is happening as it is all they have ever

known and to them this is normal. They see the person as “protecting” them

and caring for them by doing this, when in reality the person only cares about

themselves and no-one is going to take their narcissistic supply away from

them. (see narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder)

The child seeks approval from the parent desperately wanting to please

them but never, ever getting it . “Practice makes perfect” was used by Abigail

and Jess was never ever good enough to achieve any praise. Early on Jess

acknowledges that perfect doesn't really exist but has to lie to try to appease

her mother.

I thought I could see where this was going but was slightly off the mark

-however for me the most important thing is that a personality like this is now

out there for all to see to raise awareness that abuse of this type really does

happen and little can be done legally unless there are other types of abuse involved.

 “ I had been trying to achieve something that was impossible. I'd measured myself

worth by how happy I made someone else. I'd made myself feel guilty and

inadequate because no matter what I did I always failed”

Wow! To me this is either very well researched or perhaps maybe even

from someone's experience. I can't say how emotive and powerful seeing

this is. A stunning piece of writing with a message, 5*

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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The Perfect Daughter The perfect daughter… Jess Harper has spent her whole life trying to make her mum, Abigail happy and proud. And everything Jess does, from the clothes she wears, the job she has, the men she dates, are all approved by Abigail first. The perfect boyfriend… So when Jess announces that she has a new man in her life – plumber Adam – Abigail is less than impressed. 'A plumber? Really, Jessica....' Adam encourages Jess to break free from her mum’s manipulation, can’t she see what’s happening? The perfect mother…. But Abigail is only doing these things to keep Jess safe, to protect her from getting hurt again…isn’t she? Or the perfect liar? Jess, caught in the middle, doesn’t know who to believe or trust. And then Adam vanishes without trace. Now Jess is the police’s prime suspect and they want to know if Jess really is as perfect as she seems…. A gripping new psychological thriller for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and S.E.Lynes Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/2WhQ8bE

Author Bio – Alex Stone, originally an accountant from the West Midlands, is now a psychological suspense writer based in Dorset. This beautiful and dramatic coastline is the inspiration and setting for her novels. She was awarded the Katie Fforde Bursary in 2019 and her debut thriller The Perfect Daughter will be published by Boldwood in October 2021. Social Media Links – . Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlexStoneWriter Twitter https://twitter.com/AlexStoneAuthor Instagram https://www.instagram.com/AlexStoneAuthor/

 

Circle of Betrayal by Ruth O’Neill psychological thriller

Lena and Sean are expecting their first child when Lena feels that something is

amiss- as if someone is following her. At her work as a school teacher she has

to discipline a pupil in an exam for cheating and he threatens to get her back.

Taking a couple of days leave to get over this she then receives a strange

package with a doll and a chilling message which she hurriedly throws away.

When later on she tells Sean about it there is nothing in the dustbin, it's as

if she has imagined it. Sean meanwhile has a secret, something he hasn't

told Lena or anyone in his current life. It's something he tried to get away

from for many years but now he can do little about it. He has a plan, more

than one woman and is determined not to let anything get in his way.

This is a page turning read and one I enjoyed. Lena was likeable and my one

only very small criticism is that I thought Ethan was rather easily dissuaded

- perhaps the naivety of youth? A good solid plot line that kept and built

tension especially towards the end and kept me within the pages. Chapters

are told from different characters points of view and sometimes the same

event giving an all round perspective. An enjoyable read with a twist.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

  

Shadow Pursuit - Alistair Birch - political /crime thriller       

 

Kellie and Sam both have siblings that have gone missing, Kellie having just seen

her sister bundled into an unknown vehicle. Eva has a new boss and has been

seconded to MI5 for a case of possible people trafficking. When she meets

up with her, very shortly afterwards she is killed and it appears Eva is also a

target. Fortunately she manages to get away. James is Sam’s brother and

having been captured has now escaped, little knowing every move is being

tracked. A body has been found possibly infected with a toxin- something

that was found in several cadavers earlier. Is there a biological toxin being

spread and if so the team needs to get onto the source pronto?  Kellie and

Sam track some clues across London to try and find their siblings after

finding some anomalies on a map in James’ flat. A clever premise and

some complex characters with a plot to keep the grey matter active and

one with lots of action along the way (and even a little romance!). Skillful

crafted writing brings this together with trepidation along the way to

keep the pages turning ever faster (!!) A brilliant debut novel and I look

forward to the next in the series.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

 

Fear on the Fens- Joy Ellis- Crime

DI Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter are back with a rather strange and

intriguing case. Some youngsters set fire to an arbour and destroyed a tree.

A day or so later the ringleader is found burnt to death in a wheelbarrow

over the tree stump. Twenty years ago a family was torn apart by a father

who killed their gardener and then killed himself. Shortly afterwards the

younger brother despite being only thirteen, upped sticks and left home-

to where no one knows. Now his brother has heard from him and is

worried about his mental health and that he could be a danger to others as

half the time he lives in his own fantasy world- something Nikki can’t quite

get her head around. 

Another cracker of a read from Joy with characters that you can't help but

like. A good solid interesting plot and one of a very different nature in more

ways than one. A brilliantly entertaining read. I so love this series- I always

know that within a few pages I will be swaddled  between the pages

amongst friends.A slightly longer read for this one  of around 400 pages

where there are twists and turns along the way. We know who the

perpetrator is this time, but catching him is another matter, especially when

hands are tied due to something with his father and possibly the Stargate

project and remote viewing. I learnt something- I'd not come across this

before- very interesting. A masterly piece of writing so very cleverly

thought out and crafted together. Stunning doesn't come close.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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FEAR ON THE FENS (Nikki Galena #13) by Joy Ellis FROM TWO-MILLION-SELLING AUTHOR JOY ELLIS COMES ONE OF THE MOST EAGERLY AWAITED MYSTERIES THIS YEAR. Now. In the beautiful gardens of Shelley House a shocking discovery is made. A blackened hand dangles over the side of a wheelbarrow. The horrific scent of burnt flesh lingers in the air. Detective Nikki Galena and Joseph Easter are called in to investigate. Twenty years ago. A family destroyed by tragic secrets. The scientist father who killed their gardener, before being murdered himself. The brother who disappeared, never to be seen again. Until now? Nikki and Joseph must find a man who’s been missing for two decades and unravel the painful past of a broken family before anyone else dies. GRIPPING FROM BEGINNING TO STUNNING CONCLUSION. Joy Ellis was nominated for audiobook of the year at the British Book Awards 2019 and Crime and Thriller Book of the Year at the British Book Awards 2021 for The Patient Man. This totally gripping mystery is perfect for fans of L.J. Ross, Peter May, J.D. Kirk, Angela Marsons, J.M. Dalgliesh, Elly Griffiths or Ann Cleeves. What readers are saying about Joy Ellis:  “Just wonderful to read.” Carole  “Riveting tale from start to finish.” Lynne “Holds the reader’s attention from the first word to the last.” Nicki R. “Compulsive reading, I loved it.” Viv “Absolutely engrossing.” Olga “Brilliant book which kept me gripped from page 1.” Barbara THE DETECTIVE DI Nikki Galena: A police detective with nothing left to lose, she’s seen a girl die in her arms and her own family destroyed. She’s tough on criminals but fiercely loyal to her team. THE SETTING The Lincolnshire Fens: great open skies brood over marshes, farmland, and nature reserves. It is not easy terrain for the Fenland Constabulary to police, due to the distances between some of the remote fen villages, the dangerous and often misty lanes, and the poor telephone coverage. There are still villages where the oldest residents have never set foot outside their own farmland and a visit to the nearest town is a major event. But it has a strange airy beauty to it, and above it all are the biggest skies you’ve ever seen. DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MYSTERY SERIES NOW. ALSO BY JOY ELLIS THE NIKKI GALENA SERIES Book 1: CRIME ON THE FENS Book 2: SHADOW OVER THE FENS Book 3: HUNTED ON THE FENS Book 4: KILLER ON THE FENS Book 5: STALKER ON THE FENS Book 6: CAPTIVE ON THE FENS Book 7: BURIED ON THE FENS Book 8: THIEVES ON THE FENS Book 9: FIRE ON THE FENS Book 10: DARKNESS ON THE FENS Book 11: HIDDEN ON THE FENS Book 12: SECRETS ON THE FENS Book 13: FEAR ON THE FENS

JOY ELLIS UK #1 BEST SELLER WITH THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS, DARKNESS ON THE FENS, THE FOURTH FRIEND, BEWARE THE PAST, FIRE ON THE FENS, AND THE GUILTY ONES OVER 2 MILLION BOOKS SOLD! "I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the sixties and seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss! And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, a highly decorated retired police officer, and our four barking mad Springer spaniels. If I do get any spare time, which is rare these days, my one relaxation is painting, especially using soft pastels. We have been here for twenty years now and although I’ll never be a true ‘Yeller Belly’, a native born to this county, I have adopted it as my own. I love the mists, the big skies and the endless waterways. All my books are set here on the Fens, and why not? The location is perfect for murder!” BOOKS BY JOY ELLIS DI NIKKI GALENA SERIES: CRIME ON THE FENS SHADOW OVER THE FENS HUNTED ON THE FENS KILLER ON THE FENS STALKER ON THE FENS CAPTIVE ON THE FENS BURIED ON THE FENS THIEVES ON THE FENS FIRE ON THE FENS DARKNESS ON THE FENS HIDDEN ON THE FENS NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 1-3 NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 4-6 NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 7-9 JACKMAN & EVANS SERIES: THE MURDERER’S SON THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS FOURTH FRIEND THE GUILTY ONES THE STOLEN BOYS THE PATIENT MAN MATT BALLARD SERIES: BEWARE THE PAST FIVE BLOODY HEARTS STANDALONE NOVELS: GUIDE STAR FIND JOY ON AUTHOR WEBSITE FACEBOOK GOODREADS

 

The Girl on the Platform- by Ellie Midwood Historical fiction WW2

Based on a true story, we begin in the early 1930’s in Berlin. Hitler is now in

charge and his powers and forces are ever gathering strength. His propaganda

machine is beginning to spew its way into the minds of the population- the

non Jewish one. Libby had moved to Berlin to escape from her very traditional

family and is now working at MGM in the publicity department. After losing

a friend to supposed suicide (something that at the time was common and

then other forces were found to be involved) she meets Harro and there is

a spark. They later learn that they have a common connection- one that

the powers that be would not have approved of. As they get ever nearer

to certain warfare and the propaganda machine is ever busier, they find

that they could be effective against the powers that be whilst simultaneously

working with them. They distribute leaflets and listen to “ illegal “ radio

confirming the lies that Germany is constantly telling its citizens. A story of

bravery and determination against the odds. Of a spirit of life and a zeal for

the truth that others should be aware of. Wow! I finished this with a tear

in my eye and a lump in my throat- it was so very moving. To know that

most of this is true and that Libby, Harro, Lisl et al were real as was what

they lived through and fought for. Thoughts to remember and a book to

inspire and treasure. We really don’t know how lucky we are. Stunning. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Book: The Girl on the Platform

Author: Ellie Midwood

Pub Day: Oct 13th 2021

Buy Links: 

Amazon: https://geni.us/B099FC2RKLsocial 

Apple: http://ow.ly/iNIY50FwtI8

Kobo: http://ow.ly/wf3S50FwtFY

Google: http://ow.ly/ZG7H50FwtJX 

About the Book: 

Berlin, 1939: The inspiring true story of Libby Schulze-Boysen, a German girl who refused to back down to the Nazis. In the face of evil, she vowed to live by the truth––or die by it.

“Be brave. Don’t run. Fight.” With her eyes tightly shut, tears rolling from under her dark lashes, she felt his lips gently touch her burning cheek. The train on the platform whistled, and he disappeared into the steam.

Libby moves to Berlin to start a new life––as far away as possible from her family and their alliance with the Nazis. But in the city, there’s no escape from Hitler’s brutal regime. And when Libby’s friend vanishes into thin air, she decides she cannot stand back and do nothing…

After Libby makes connections with fellow anti-Nazis, she’s introduced to Harro. Instantly, she knows there’s a story behind his cornflower-blue eyes. The whip marks on his back, scars from the SS, tell his secret: he is a resistance fighter.

Harro draws Libby into the world of the resistance, and as they fall in love, their life grows increasingly dangerous. Becoming a double agent, Libby infiltrates the Ministry of Propaganda. By day, they smuggle classified documents. By night, they hold clandestine meetings by candlelight and plot Hitler’s downfall.

But in the frostbitten winter of 1942, Libby fears that the Gestapo is stalking them––their every move watched, their phone calls recorded. And one day, Harro simply disappears. Will they ever be reunited? Or will everything they’ve risked their lives for be in vain?

Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network and The Lilac Girls will be utterly gripped by this heartbreaking page-turner. Based on a true story, this beautiful novel shows that even when our freedom is stolen, we still have a choice…

Author Bio

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, "The Girl from Berlin." Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Social Media

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/EllieMidwood/

Website: http://elliemidwood.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliemidwood/