Category: Books

The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I was very happy that a new book by Claire Douglas was out for us to read this summer season. I was even happier because it still had front doors on the cover – I am actually obsessed with these covers to Clare Douglas’ books and I think if they ever stop being front doors, I may be inconsolable. But I digress, let’s talk about this book (with some difficulty, as it is a thriller – haha).

‘The New Neighbours’ had been picked for the IRL book club and, although I had been unable to attend the last one, I am over the moon that this is what they picked. I started it Sunday afternoon and I had finished it by Monday evening. It had me reading past my bedtime, as well as reading when I should probably have been doing other things. I had some train journeys and it came with me on them because I just had to keep reading it (trains had become Kindle zones because it is just easier – as much as I am still rather anti-Kindle, I am not anti-being able to have multiple books with me on any form of public transport).

This was such a fantastic thriller. And, I will be honest, I did not see where it was going, although in hindsight there were plenty of clues, but I was just so absorbed in the escapism of the story, I do not think my brain was in gear to try and solve it.

Lena meets her new neighbours, Marielle and Henry, who seem charming and just the sort of couple you would like living next door. However, as you would suspect, they are not all they seem to be and Lena ends up with a whole list of suspicions and worries about the new neighbours. This leads us into a pacy thriller where nothing is ever quite as it seems and the ending: ‘oh my’ – I love a slightly creepy ending.

I am afraid that is all I can give you about the story with my no-spoiler policy. However, I can say that this is a well-written page-turner that I am pretty sure will be loved by anyone who enjoys a thriller, but especially by those who love Claire Douglas’ books. I think it could possibly be one of my favourites of her novels.

So, in simple terms: thriller fans, this is the book for you.

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I am sure you will have seen ‘The Safekeep’ around. It won the 2025’s Women’s prize, and I can totally see why. Any book where the title can have multiple meanings in relation to the text is a winner to me – and there are really a number of ways you can interpret the title of this book, as well as the original meaning of the title. Which I am not sure I can tell you, as I think that could well be a little bit of a spoiler for the final part of the book.

This is a beautifully written, well-constructed story. We meet Isa, who is living like a recluse in her childhood home that her family moved into during the war. She has very little contact with the outside world, other than with her two brothers and her regular maid; she is suspicious of the outside world, and feels she needs to keep the home safe. Until the arrival of her brother Louis’ latest girlfriend, who moves in with Isa and turns her life upside down.

Their relationship is explored in detail, as Isa learns more about herself than she has for most of her life. And it also forces her to reflect on her past. But once her houseguest, Eva, leaves, Isa finds out the truth about her famly home – and this forces her to reflect on her family and country’s history.

The safekeep means so much in this book, or as I read it, it does. And I am not sure I should explore them in this blog post, as I fear it may take away from the reading experience for anyone who would like to read it, but it definitely forced me to reflect a little more about this book and not just take it at face value.

This is a good book, and I can see why it is a prize winner. And the final part of the story that brings it all together is excellent, but it is a complex book, and I am not sure how you would categorise it, as it seems to cross a number of genres. I have seen it described as a thriller, but I am not sure I would say that; it has also been seen as historical fiction (with its 1960s setting), but I am not sure I would even call it that. I think it is an excellent piece of literary fiction that needs to be read for anyone to be able to form any kind of judgement about it, because I suspect it is a very different reading experience for each reader.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Although the good old British public transport system conspired against me and prevented me from being able to attend a recent Holly Jackson event, it did not prevent me from getting my copy of her new book, ‘Not Quite Dead Yet’. Holly Jackson is an autobuy author for me, and as we all know, I do not read blurb, so I had all I knew about this story from the title (very apt) and the cover, but that was enough for me.

I absolutely devoured this book from the moment I picked it up. Holly Jackson writes some really incredible crime/thriller books, and this one did not disappoint. For a first adult fiction book, it was brilliant and did not lose any of the great storytelling that Holly Jackson has given us in YA fiction. It is not a spoiler that this book is about Jet Mason having seven days to solve her own murder (which adds a whole other level of peril to the usual peril you find in these books), and that is exactly what she aims to do.

Jet is a great strong female lead character, who does not let anyone else try to decide her destiny for her, as all she wants is to ensure that the person responsible for her murder is brought to justice. As she does this, it opens a Pandora’s Box of secret and lies about her family and the town she has grown up in. That is about as much as I can give you, as this is a spoiler-free blog. But you will want to read it to find out exactly what it is Jet uncovers as she searches for her murderer.

What I will say about this book is that I am not sure all the secrets were a complete surprise. I was suspicious of one character fairly early on, however, not quite for the right reason. And I love that about a whodunnit: you can make your predictions, you can follow the clues, and you can make your decisions, which may not always be right, but it does all make you reflect on how you got there.

In my humble opinion, Holly Jackson has made the transition from YA to adult fiction successfully, and hopefully this has brought her books to a whole new audience. Although, to be honest, I think many of us adults had read the YA too, but there may be some of you out there who haven’t, so can I suggest you read ‘Not Quite Dead Yet’, because it is definitely worth it.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

‘The Wedding People’ was recommended by Clare Pooley at the last Book Taster Live event – so I knew it was a book I had to read. And when a book buddy suggested that we give it a go for a buddy read, I knew I could not turn down the chance. A book about a woman who ends up as an unexpected guest at quite an ‘extra’ wedding does sound like quite an incredible idea for a book.

I have to be honest, as I started the book, I thought I was not going to like it, and that it was at risk of being a DNF. However, there is a moment after the first few pages where the book just clicks and I struggled to put it down, as I wanted to know what was going to happen next to our cast of characters, or what secret was about to let out into the world next. In fact, as I read this book, I could clearly visualise it as being a film. Some of the humourous scenes are so well written, that I could just see it on the big screen (a moment with a boat and a funeral for a virtual pet was one such moment).

This is a very character-led book, so it was not one that could be read in small speedy chunks. You need to dedicate some reading time to this book and as you read it the time will fly. Alison Espach manages to have every character you could imagine at this wedding, and I am pretty sure you will see people you know in this book. However, it also really successfully tackles topics such as loneliness, even when you are surrounded by people and family relationships of all kinds. It makes it quite a touching read at points, and you really see the characters develop and change as you progress through the book. It is especially fantastic to see Phoebe become who she is at the end of the book, despite the difficult start that she has.

I am not sure that this book was anything that I thought it would be and, although one plot point is fairly obvious, it is still a book that may surprise. This is a piece of contemporary fiction that deserves to be read and I hope many more readers pick it up and enjoy, because it is good fun as a read.

Into the Fire by G. D. Wright

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I spotted ‘Into the Fire’ by G. D. Wright on Bookstagram a number of times and it has a rather attractive cover, so I felt I had to give it a go.

This book starts rather dramatically with our hero (or so we think), Steve, rescuing a baby boy from a house fire. Creating a media frenzy, as you would expect, Steve, the quiet, unassuming family man, is thrown into the spotlight and is the centre of a media circus. This leads to the secrets of Steve’s past coming to light – and the question soon becomes: is Steve a hero or a villain?

Told from multiple perspectives, we see the story unfold, and how it impacts a number of different characters, including the detective (always great to have a strong female detective), who has a connection to the current case and a cold case. This is not so much a whodunnit but a whydunnit: why is Steve both a hero and villain? Why have things about his past stayed hidden for so long? Why does anyone do some of the things that they do – especially the most extreme?

There is also a clear study of multiple relationships – family, friend, perpetrator and victim; professional, police and public. And the idea of trust is considered throughout the book: who do we trust and why do we trust them?

A moment at the very end of the book is a twist I was not expecting, although the author resvisits the clues for you and, actually, other readers may have picked it up, but I did not. I was not sure this twist was needed as it happened but, as I finished the book, I could understand this decision and why it was as it was, and actually what it brought to the story. Even if in the moment it was a little bit of a shock, and felt as though it might be there just for shock factor.

It always seems strange to say that I enjoyed a book with some dark subjects and events, but this was a good read; I would advise that maybe you should check the trigger warnings before you read this, as, for some people, it may be a slightly more difficult read.

I would certainly read more G. D. Wright books, and have already looked up what else has been written – because, as we know, you can never have enough books.

The Psychopath Next Door by Mark Edwards

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I kicked off my Summer Holiday Reading by picking up ‘The Psychopath Next Door’ by Mark Edwards. I was lucky enough to hear Mark speak and interview Jo Callaghan at a bookish event and it was at this same event that I picked up his book. I am ashamed to say that before then he had not come up on my bookish radar, but I am glad he did that day, because this book was an absolutely brillliant thriller.

I consumed this book in three days, I could not put it down. It sucked you in from page one. Thrillers are always a tough one to write reviews about, as you know I do everything to keep it as spoiler-free as possible. I mean, that title makes it fairly clear what the book is probably about, so that is not a real spoiler, but how that situation came about and how it impacts the Dove family is quite the ride.

It is a rather dark tale as we find how Fiona Smith has found herself living nextdoor to the Dove family and how she becomes part of their lives. But there are some wonderful twists along the way and I could not move until I finished the final few chapters of the book, as I had to know what was going to happen and how this book would be drawn to a close. It is a brilliantly constructed tale from start to finish – full of drama, suspense and thrills. The dark characters are really rather complex, and add the the chills as you read the book. And it is interesting how ordinary the other characters seem to be, and make you realise how much in a family and friendship group we probably accept so much at face value, and sometimes wisdom does not come with age and we should sometimes have more faith in the young.

I am not sure why I am always drawn to thrillers at this time of year – but what this has done has secured Mark Edwards as another author (and the list keeps growing) that I am keen to read the backlist of. And I am excited that he has a new book out this very summer, which, of course, is on the wishlist.

The Vacation by John Marrs

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Within a short period of time, I seem to have gone from never having read a John Marrs book, to knowing that he is a reliable choice when you need a great book to read. ‘The Vacation’ was chosen as a informal buddy read with one of my booksta buddies and it was a great choice. Which, to be honest, was no surprise.

‘The Vacation’ is set around one slightly questionable hostel in Venice Beach, and the people who choose to stay there or have found themselves working there. We find out what has brought them there, as well as following the exploits whilst they are there. And there is quite a colourful collection of characters – with some rather dark secrets or troubled pasts – and more in common than they realise. As well as the meaning of ‘vacation’ for each of our different characters.

This, of course, was a page-turner, as you would expect from the pen of John Marrs. As I was reading this, I just had to know what was going to happen next. Especially as each ‘part’ ended on quite a revelation.

John Marrs always knows how to create some really rather dark characters. As well as creating some thought-provoking moments, especially around people doing the wrong thing but for some ‘right’ reasons. Or people trying to save themselves from situations that are unpleasant or dangerous – does that make some actions ‘understandable’?

Also, he draws so well on the topics that raise a lot of questions in out current time. In this book there is a discussion about the price of fame and those that find themselves in the spotlight, and the exploitation in that industry. There are some other ideas too, but this is one that really struck me, as it is something that is around us all the time in popular culture and media.

So, if you are a John Marrs fan, you will absolutely enjoy this book – and it has just proved that I need to keep working my way through John Marrs’ backlist, because I am fairly certain none of them will disappoint.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

When a book buddy suggested they were going to start this book, I jumped on and asked if we could have an informal buddy read. I had been intimidated by ‘Demon Copperhead’ for quite some time; I have it as a hardback (which is quite the chunky-looking book), but it has also had so much love. It is a prize-winner (which often makes me nervous that I am just not on that level as a reader), and I have heard it recommended on BBC Radio 4’s ‘A Good Read’, and it has been a selection on BBC2’s ‘Between the Covers’. This level of hype makes me nervous, but now was the time to pick this book up with the support of a bookish buddy.

I think it is fairly common knowledge that Demon Copperhead is a modern reimagining of David Copperfield, and oh my word, this is an inspirational idea because it has its similarities but is also a completely original story.

Barbara Kingsolver has built an absorbing story, which, very much like Dickens, is a social commentary of modern America, and the broken social system and opiate crisis (ironic that there would have been one of these in Victorian London too, questioning if the world has really ever moved on?). It is a painful read at points, and it may make you angry, but it will keep you reading as the characters are created so clearly that you have to stay with them and find out what will happen to each of them – and if Demon can ever get his happy ending.

Demon is one of the best characters that I have read in a book. You want to be able to jump into the pages and save him. He is a young man who just needs to be loved, and understand the love of a family. He has missed this all of his formative years, and it leads to some poor decisions and combined with some bad luck, leads him down a path he knows is wrong but he can’t seem to help himself. It is almost as though he has resigned himself to the fact that this is all society expects from him, so that is what is going to happen. You see some wonderful glimmers of when he has chances, and there are hope of change but life is cruel and it just does not seem on the cards for Demon Copperhead to have any real chance in life.

There are so many other fascinating characters I could comment on, both those that are kind and complicated are created so clearly for the reader, with the clever play on names (and nicknames) that seem to totally encapsulate who they are and what they may mean to Demon. It is all just so clever, and a clear indication that Barbara Kingsolver is an incredibly skilled author.

I do not think I will be able to forget Demon Copperhead for quite some time, and it means I will certainly have to read ‘David Copperfield’, as I have seen films and TV adaptations but have never actually read the book. But I will say that ‘Demon Copperhead’ is not a retelling, it is a story in its own right, that has done exactly what Dickens did, highlighted a terrible social situation to the world, and for us modern readers, it has really shown how there are exactly the same social issues as there were nearly 200 years ago – and should we not be a in a world that should know so much better?

On the Edge by Sarah Turner

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

In preparation for The Book Taster Book Club this month, I made sure I read ‘On the Edge’ in plenty of time. It had, no surprise, been sitting on the tbr pile for a little while, so it was about time I picked it up, especially as I have been following Sarah Turner on social media for quite some time.

I will be completely honest, this book was a complete surprise. I was pretty sure I would enjoy it before I started, I was not aware quite how much I would enjoy it. I have read books that have made me laugh and cry before, but not ones that have made me literally laugh and cry simultaneously. I binged the entire second half of the novel, not moving until I had finished it one Saturday morning.

I really do not want to give this story away too much because I really want people to read it and enjoy it, because I think it will offer something different to everyone. However, this is a story about family, in pretty much every sense of the word. And a wonderful study of relationships and character. However, it will be no surprise that ‘on the edge’ has so many different meanings in this book – especially for our main character Joni who returns to her home town after the death of her Nana, who has set a number of challenges for the family if they wish to receive their inheritance (and have her ashes to spread). There are, of course, mishaps and revelations along the way, which make for a truly entertaining read.

A few of the characters are a little infuriating, but I am pretty sure we would all have encountered someone that had traits of all of these characters. And, for me, it was all perfectly fitting for the story, because I think a lot of what happens in this book when it comes to self-reflection and relationships have all been things that many of us have faced, and sometimes seeing them on the pages helps us all.

This has secured Sarah Turner as an author I am keen to read more from – surprise: I have ‘Stepping Up’ on the tbr too, so it may have to be bumped up the list now – although I may have to emotionally prepare myself for the experience after this book.

Our Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As I have mentioned before, I love the fact that I have a backlist from Liz Nugent to enjoy. My latest choice was ‘Our Little Cruelties’ – which has another stunning cover.

‘Our Little Cruelties’ tells us about three brothers, William, Brian and Luke Drumm. Each is a very different character, despite the same shared experiences as children, or so they think. But, as we read the story, we see how their experiences were not as similar as they may have seemed. Each brother had a very different relationship with their mother, especially Luke – and does that shape the man that he becomes? In fact, as the story is told, we realise how toxic the relationship between the brothers is, and maybe how similar they are and the ‘little cruelties’ they demonstrate towards each other. How will their relationship end?

Something that Liz Nugent is amazing at is writing male relationships and characters. And, often, they are not very pleasant people, and expose the worst characteristics in human beings – but this makes the books thought-provoking and very readable.

I have to be honest: this is not my favourite of her books so far. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it and had to know where the story is going, as anything that opens with a funeral leaves you needing to know how we got to that point. However, as this story was told in different parts, from the viewpoint of each brother as we move to the moment that got us to the funeral, it made it slightly repetitive at moments. Of course, this is so we can see how they interpreted events, or how various events played out for them, but for me it just felt at times that we were not finding out anything new (especially as William was such a wonderfully dislikeable character).

Yet, please do not take this as you should not pick this book up, as each of us has a different reading experience, and ultimately if, like me, you are a fan of the books of Liz Nugent, then you will want to have read this book.