Tag: Fiction

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This is a book that I admit I would probably never have picked up without it being picked as a November Buddy Read with my lovely Booksta buddy. I had not even heard of it, but it was her choice, so I gave it a go. And it was so worth it.

However, one of the things we spent most of the book trying to work out was, what has the title got to do with the rest of the book? I won’t spoil what the title has to do with the whole book, but I will reassure you that it does make sense at a key point in the story – so, do not spend your reading time worrying about the connection. Haha!

There are so many wonderful themes in this book. But we will start with the fact that it is a clear celebration of female friendship, when you have that one friend who you are always there for, and is always there for you; who you know always has your back. That is the friendship of Pen and Alice, who had made the decision to attend Edinburgh University together, despite the fact that it means moving many miles from their homes in Canada. I also enjoyed that they seemed like two people who on paper may not get along, but they have a beautiful bond, as we see when we read the book.

But the thing that really gripped me in this story is the mystery Pen has chosen to investigate when she is in Scotland. What is the reason her father appeared to fall out with his best friend from his university days, and why does she carry his name as her middle name? This brings all sorts of surprises as she delves into what went wrong – including a journey of self-discovery for Pen, and maybe her chance to find love.

This book was a surprise for me. I did not think I would not have enjoyed it, more it would probably never have made it onto my radar for me to find out if I enjoyed it or not. Yet, if you enjoy a story rich with characters (especially strong female characters) and with a hint of mystery, then this is the book for you. Do not let it pass you by as I so nearly did.

Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Which book got me to my reading goal for 2025?

‘Two Kinds of Stranger’ by Steve Cavanagh was the book that helped me hit 90 books in 2025. And what a book to hit the goal with. Steve Cavanagh is one of my go-to authors when I want a great read, especially in my crime-thriller era, and ‘Two Kinds of Stranger’ did not disappoint.

This is a book with our favourite lawyer, Eddie Flynn, the man who always fights for those who seem to be without hope – and who always seems to tackle the most villainous of criminals. And I think our villian in this novel is one of the best he has a created, a real psychopath. Someone who really gave me chills each time we read about his antics.

Elly appears to have it all, when we meet her at the start of the story, and she shares it all on social media, as an influencer who has found fame for her random acts of kindness. However, little does she know the thing that has made her ‘famous’ becomes the thing that makes her infamous. Her RAOK and desire to help others lands her at the centre of a murder enquiry, which means she has to turn to Eddie Flynn and his team for help.

As I say every time, I am sure you are getting bored by it, but there are no spoilers here. But I will say that I absolutely loved this book; I love how Eddie and his team work to fight for justice, even if sometimes it is not in the most conventional manner, you know it will always make for a good read.

And if you are sitting there thinking, I have never read an Eddie Flynn, do I need to start from the beginning, the answer is absolutely not. One of the beauties of these books is that they are part of a series, but you can read them as standalone stories as well – I have read them in whichever order I have managed to pick them up and it has worked out fine.

So, if you are looking for a great crime thriller or just fancy trying something new, then let me recommend the books of Steve Cavanagh – but especially ‘Two Kinds of Stranger’.

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This year, I discovered the books of Mark Edwards. After attending an event where he interviewed Jo Callaghan, I read ‘The Psychopath Next Door‘ and loved it, so I knew I had to give his new book ‘The Wasp Trap’ a go. I was inspired to pick it up this month because I had spotted a few others reading it and loving it, so I knew it was time.

Spoiler alert, I loved it. In fact, as I was reading it, I could see it as a TV drama. There was so much going on, and so many fascinating characters, I absolutely could not put it down. It is perfect reading for these darks months, as it is a real page-turner of a thriller – it is like Traitors, but far more sinister.

This book has some of the best ingredients of a thriller. A locked room (well a locked house), a set of characters who do not seem to make a whole lot of sense together, but have a shared and complex past and more than one mystery going on. I really enjoyed that we moved between the present and the past as the story unfolded and, of course, how nothing was quite how it seemed. There were twists and turns a plenty, and a good build-up of paranoia for some of our characters, which probably throws the reader off the scent of the real revelation.

I stayed up past my bedtime to finish this book, so to me that is always the best recommendation you can give about a book, as it means it is one that really grips you. I was desperate to know what the solution was going to be to the tale and it did not disappoint.

So, if you are looking for a gripping thriller, for yourself or as you are doing your Christmas shopping (because, let’s be honest, it is that time of year), then this is a book that you need to add to the list. Although there is also a Christmas book from Mark Edwards this year – ‘The Christmas Magpie’ – which I have to admit is on my reading list for the December months, because I just know it is going to a great read.

All Good Things by Amanda Prowse

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

My monthly buddy read pick with the lovely Christine was ‘All Good Things’ by Amanda Prowse.

Since discovering Amanda Prowse’s books earlier this year, and having been lucky enough to meet her and have a great big hug, this is the third one I have read and the third one I have loved.

Amanda is brilliant at writing about families and relationships. I do not know how she does it, but she creates the most fantastic characters (even if you do not like them all) and tells their story with such warmth and humour that you are hooked from the moment you start reading. And, even if you do not like them very much, you do seem to find yourself hoping for the best for all of them by the end.

‘All Good Things’ tells the story of two families, who are neighbours. They appear to have two very different lives; on the one side is the family that appears to have it all, and on the other, a family that appears to be losing its way. However, as our story unfolds, we realise that maybe these families should be viewed the other way round – as the most important thing in any family is love and understanding. Maybe your worth should be measured in the amount of love that you have, and not the possessions you own or the people you know.

I absolutely adored this book, and I loved the way that each chapter was told from a different POV. This really made you think about the way someone may view themselves or a situation compared to what is really going on. And that is an idea I think about a lot, especially in the world of growing social media influence. The perception we may have of someone is probably very rarely the truth.

I can not wait to keep reading more of Amanda Prowse’s books, as I am pretty sure I am never going to meet an Amanda Prowse book I do not love. Especially as I think she is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met.

The Love of Our Lives by Emma Steele

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I was very lucky that Emma Steele reached out and asked me if I would like to read her novel, ‘The Love of Our Lives’ and I, of course, said ‘Yes, please’. And, that is how I ended up with a beautiful signed copy of this fabulous book.

Maggie has a second chance at life, not just because she has had a heart transplant, but because she wakes up one day and finds out that she is living the life of the donor. As she realises she has to accept the experience that is happening to her, it gives her a second chance at life and teaches her some life lessons along the way. Especially about love.

This wonderful book is set in Edinburgh, which means this story unfolds in a beautiful part of the world too, and I rather enjoyed that, from the few visits that I have made, I could picture some of the scenes as they unfold in our story.

This is a wonderful love story, but I would say also a life story. There are some real life lessons in this book about taking the chance to embrace the chances that life gives you. And how easy it is for us to let life pass us by, and to get stuck in a rut. Or isolate ourselves completely from the support that there might be out there…

I will not deny that I cried at moments in this book. I loved the characters and really felt for them at moments in the story. And I am always going to cry when there is a grumpy old man who starts to realise that he is letting life pass him by, often with the help of a lovely neighbour.

I am very grateful that Emma thought of me as someone who would like to read her book, because she was right – and I already have some people in mind who I think will enjoy it too. And you will too, if you enjoy contemporary fiction with a romantic twist, that has a heart and a cast of loveable characters.

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As I love the idea of reading a book that is set somewhere that I am visiting, I finally picked up my first Donna Leon book when I visited The Aldeburgh Bookshop. The aim was to read this when I was in-visit, however, I ended up reading it when we had moved on to Florence – at least we were in the same country…

And, as I read it, I decided that I have left it far too long to pick up a book by Donna Leon. I absolutely loved this piece of crime fiction: a police procedural in style. It took me to the classic crime genre, reminding me of my favourites, like Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse. However, it was quite nice to read about a detective who does not seem (so far) to have a particular demon haunting him, other than his potential dislike for social hierarchy. He definitely seemed to lean to the left.

By he, I of course mean Commissario Brunetti. A likeable main character who loves his city of Venice. Especially as Venice becomes not just the setting but almost a character in the book. After all, it is a city that can steal your heart and it is full of fascinating stories everywhere you look.

In this story, I solved it just slightly ahead of Commissario Brunetti, and I am okay with that, as this is a traditional crime story, and I enjoyed following the clues to find a solution. This does not mean that this is a simple story, as there are some quite complex characters, but it means that it is a book that wants to be a crime story, and you follow Brunetti as she solves his crime.

There are twists as the case unfolds, and some dark themes, but this is not a thriller – this is a true crime story, and that was exactly why I enjoyed it. It has not been written to shock, it has been written to be a good story. And that story has stood the test of time, as I did not realise how long ago this book had actually been published (1992) – the bonus of that, of course, is that I have so many Donna Leon books to read – and that makes me very happy.

To Love A Liar by L.V. Matthews

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As we have clearly spotted, I love a thriller or crime story. So, when ‘The Book Taster’ picked ‘To Love A Liar’ by L.V. Matthews, I knew I was likely to be thrown into a book I would love. And…I was.

This is a brilliant thriller which reveals surprise after surprise and, just as you think you have got to grips with the story, another curve-ball comes out of nowhere and smacks you in the face. To the point that I had to message a friend and ensure that I had correctly understood the series of events. This is not a criticism of the narrative but, in fact, praise of it, because it was just a rollercoaster of a read.

I am honestly stumped in how to review this book, as the joy for me was that I actually did not know anything about this novel, which meant that every single moment was a surprise – and I think that is how it should be read. In fact, I am hoping that my words will just make you pick it up without the blurb, so you can simply experience the joy of reading this book.

There was also the clever use of mixed media to tell the story. There was the use of social media posts to add to the story, and I think this was a very clever way to additionally engage readers with the narrative. But it also shows how the way that news and information is shared has changed so much – how quickly fake or false ideas can spread, and how much people are willing to have an opinion when they think they can hide behind a screen. I think this also causes the reader to reflect on the significance of this to the story, and how the narrative can be changed.

This is a book that I will be recommending to anyone who is listening – especially those readers I know who are fans of the thriller and crime novels – the twistier the better.

Such Charming Liars by Karen M McManus

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Although I am not the target audience for Karen M. McManus’ YA thriller fiction, I always find myself purchasing each one. They are also very satisfying on the shelf next to each other, and the latest, ‘Such Charming Liars’, is a rather wonderful shade of purple on the shelf.

In ‘Such Charming Liars’, we meet Kat and Liam, who are step-siblings who appear to be reunited by chance as Kat’s mum, Jamie, is sent to carry out a mission for her ’employer’, Gem. They find themselves on the rather impressive Sutherland estate. Neither of them is there for totally honest reasons; however, things take a turn that neither of them could have predicted.

As we all know, this site needs to be spoiler-free, which is never easy when I am trying to share thoughts about titles such as this one. However, what I can say is that returning to a Karen M. McManus novel in autumn is like returning to an old friend. They are quite a comfort read, despite being a YA thriller. They are always full of great characters, and strong female characters, which I think is something that is important for YA novels in the modern age. Alongside this, she is a pro at planting red herrings that can send you off on the wrong path, only for you to suddenly be thrown onto a different path altogether. Alongside this, the final quarter of this book comes at quite a pace, with a twist that I did not see coming as it hit. Which, surely, is always a sign of a good read?

So, if you are looking for a thriller that is great escapism for these autumn evenings, then Karen M. McManus is always a good idea. And if you have a YA reader in your life, maybe this is a set of books you can introduce them to.

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

If you have been here a while you will know that I absolutely loved ‘Wahala‘ – to the point that I know where I was when I read it. I even remember telling Nikki May herself (thanks to The Book Taster) that she had created one of the best villains of all time and I still stand by that.

So, I am sure you have worked out that I absolutely loved ‘This Motherless Land’, too. And, I do not know why I left it on my shelf for so long. Well, in fact, I do know why, because I did not want to finish it and then know that I would not be able to read it for the first time again.

This book, inspired by ‘Mansfield Park’, was everything that I hoped it would be and probably a little more. Nikki May has a skill of creating the most wonderful characters who you can visualise from the moment you start reading, and seems to have a particular skill of creating characters you quite like to dislike. However, this book touched on some really important issues. ‘Mansfield Park’ may have addressed the prejudice of the rich-poor divide; ‘This Motherless Land’ also addresses this, but also the racial prejudice faced by our wonderful central character Funke. Funke is Anglo-Nigerian, and fabulous; however, some of her family members in England do not seem to be willing to accept her with the love and acceptance that they should. However, she does form a bond with her cousin, until the day that an accident tears them apart and they lead two different lives, and we reflect on the paths their lives take.

I genuinely adored this book, just as I have so much admiration for Nikki May, especially as I was lucky enough to meet her at a ‘The Book Taster Live’ event. She really writes stories we want to read, but does not shy away from topics that we should probably all be thinking about and reflecting on, on a regular basis. This retelling brings the story bang up to date and becomes the story we need in this time, and just like ‘Wahala’ has brilliantly strong female lead characters, putting women right in the middle of the action. I am pretty sure that Jane Austen would throughly approve of this book, as it brings a social issue to the attention of readers, and gives women a loud and proud voice in the modern age.

I will be recommending this book to everyone – a modern classic in the making. Thank you Nikki May, and I can’t wait to see what other stories you will be sharing with us.

The Names by Florence Knapp

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

‘The Names’ is a book that had started to make a few appearences on Bookstagram, so of course it caught my eye, because a title like that just sounds like it is going to be a fascinating read. In fact, the first time it truly came to my attention was thanks to ‘The Book Taster’, as there was a little teaser of the book in our wonderful goody bags.

This book is beautiful. This book is fascinating. This is a book that I could not put down. And, it is a book that I cannot really review because I think you need to read it, almost with no idea what it is about (other than names). I did not know what it was about as, surprise, I did not read the blurb, and I think that actually increased my enjoyment of the book.

All I feel I can share is that this book is beautifully written. The characters are conjured up for you so wonderfully that you feel you know them. And, it is okay not to like them if they are not a very nice character. It also touches your heart almost immediately as you begin your journey with the collection of characters. I just needed to know what was going to happen; was everyone going to end up on the path they deserved? And are our paths determined from the moment we are born?

Also, I am over the moon that Florence Knapp will be at the next ‘Book Taster Live’ event (which I am, of course, hoping I will be grabbing a ticket for) and I can’t wait to hear what inspired her to write this rather beautiful book.

If you really want to know what this book is about, please pick up a copy, because I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed. And if you do manage to read it, please let me know, because I would absolutely love to know what you think about it – because I think it is a wonderful read.