The Other Side Of The Wall by Andrea Mara - Review and Giveaway

Thanks to the author, I have two signed copies of The Other Side Of The Wall to giveaway. To be in with a chance of winning, just enter via rafflecopter link below. Open INT and closes 28th August. Good Luck!

My Review

Sylvia sits feeding her baby in the early hours of the morning. Exhausted, she nods off and wakes with a jolt. The dog is barking. Placing her son in his cot, she looks out the window to see why. She is horrified to see a child, floating face-down in her neighbour's pond. When she rushes into the garden, there is no sign of the child and no answer from next-door, despite her incessant knocking.  The incident unnerves her, but she puts it down to lack of sleep and the news that a local child is missing. But she just cannot shift the uneasy feeling that she did not imagine what she saw...

A string of odd happenings lead Sylvia to distrust her new neighbour, Sam. His wife and children are away for the summer and, while he is friendly and a hit with her own husband, she just cannot shake her unease. She struggles to make her husband believe that there are strange things happening and begins to doubt herself. Is there really something going on on the other side of the wall, or is she imagining things?

Andrea Mara opens up her debut with a bang. The night-time exhaustion and dim light add uncertainty to Sylvia's sighting of the child in the garden, but then more unusual events lead to unexplained happenings on the quite suburban road. Told from multiple viewpoints (Sylvia's, Sam's, Kate, an un-named woman) and over different time spans, the layered story reveals itself, one page at a time.  Sylvia's voice is one we all know: juggling work and home-life; trying to please everyone, forgetting about yourself; avoiding interaction with neighbours for fear of judgment; questioning your own parenting skills or even your own sanity, at times. Kate and Sam are going through a difficult time and we learn why they spent so little time together and why Kate is rarely seen. The tension builds, the questions becoming more frequent and the turns jarring the reader from their sense of comfort. 

All is not what it seems and not everyone is telling the truth. At just under 400 pages, this is a psychological thriller to test your trust in its narration. The changing timelines and characters do take a while to get used to, but this is a fine debut that you will struggle to put down. 

The Other Side Of The Wall is available in PB and ebook format. You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, HERE. The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

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Book Review: Love In Row 27 by Eithne Shortall.

Airline check-in agent, Cora Hendricks, is the queen of match-making. With the help of online research, she sees potential mates and brings them together on board Aer Lingus short-haul routes. Row 27 has been earmarked by herself and her cabin-crew friend, Nancy; where the unsuspecting singles are seated together and given some on-board VIP treatment. Not all the matches are successful, but Cora and Nancy cross their fingers and wait for the magic to happen. Meanwhile, Cupid's arrow seems to have flown right past Cora and she despairs at ever meeting Mr. Right. 

The search for the perfect summer read ends here. Eithne Shortall has written a wonderfully fun and uplifting tale, with Cora at its heart. Based in London Heathrow, the world of human interaction is temporarily restored when self-service and online check-in are suspended for a time. The days of queuing at an airline desk and chatting to the agent ceased back in the late 1990s and air travel lost a bit of its wonder. Staff become almost invisible and match-making opportunities were all but gone. By suspending passengers ability to ignore check-in, the story is given wings that would otherwise have been clipped. Cora's co-workers are a mixed bunch and the banter between all departments in the airport is just as real as it is in real-life. Ground crew; Cabin crew; baggage handlers; airport security; concession staff; they all work in the climate controlled, permanently busy airport. There is never a dull day and no two passengers are the same. 

Cora's mother is suffering from early on-set dementia and has been placed in a care-facility. Visits can be difficult and memories are becoming harder and harder to grasp. Nancy is hoping for promotion and to be seen more than just the 'coffee or tea? girl. A host of other airline staff are ever-present and the new-found fame of one of the gang leads to some hilarious antics in front of a TV crew. As the passengers board flights, they are unaware of the bigger story.  Female fiction doesn't get much better than this. Love in Row 27 is a refreshing and rewarding read, definitely worth packing in your suitcase. Highly recommended.

Love in Row 27 is published by Corvus and is available in PB an ebook format. You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, HERE. The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

Book Review - 'Gone Without A Trace' by Mary Torjussen.

Gone Without A Trace by Mary Torjussen

Hannah is on her way home to break some great news to her boyfriend, Matt. She is confident that she is about to be come the youngest director of her company and wants to celebrate. Problem is, there is no sign of Matt at their Merseyside home. She calls out for him, but there is no answer. The lights are all off and she senses something wrong. It is not long before she notices the complete absence of Matt's existence. No clothes, no computer, the huge TV and ipod dock is missing. All the books, cds, records that were his collection, they too are gone. Large framed pictures, a glass coffee table, even his headphones. The place could have been burgled, except all Hannah's old stuff was put in place of the missing items. Her old clunky TV, her ancient stereo and coffee table. What was going on?

She tries ringing Matt on her mobile but his name has disappeared from her contacts and all his messages have been deleted. She has no proof of him ever being part of her life. What the hell is going on?

When Hannah investigates her boyfriends disappearance, she fears he has been kidnapped. He has not been seen in work for weeks and they have no idea where he is now. The house has been stripped of every single sign of him and she fears the worst. Her friends try to reason with her. Maybe he left her? She does not believe he would do that without explaining himself, She calls on her pal Katie to help her through the madness and the girls try to figure out what the hell has happened.

As the story progresses, the taut lines of tension build up slowly and you find yourself metaphorically checking over your shoulder as you read through the uncomfortable and uncertain situations. You begin to doubt the reliability of Hannah, then her co-workers, then Kate. You start to doubt everyone and wonder just who knows what. There is something very strange going on, and you just keep flicking those pages to see what happens next 

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This is a clever, cunning and multi-layered thriller, which will have you playing a guessing game right from the first chapter. The hairs raise on the back of Hannah's back as she enters her darkened house that fateful night, and so will yours. Torjussen has written a fine debut novel, full of twists, turns and shockers. I challenge you not to read in one or two sittings (dinner breaks allowed, for sustenance reasons) and close the last page without thinking 'Damn, that was good,' Tweet me @margaretbmadden with your thoughts.

Gone Without A Trace is published by Headline and is available in PB on 23rd March 2017 and is already available in ebook format. You can order your copy via amazon link below:

Book Review - 'The Memory of Music' by Olive Collins.

Ireland 2016 and Isabel is approaching her 100th Birthday.  Born during the Easter Rising, she has lived through some of the country's most turbulent times.  The daughter of a spirited woman and gifted violin-maker, the memories come to life when she hears the music of her past.  

Dublin 1916 and Betty is about to give birth, alone.  Irish rebels are taking over the city and she fears for her husband's safety.  Huddled in a tenement building, close to the GPO, she vows to improve her circumstances, with or without her husband's consent.  

Ireland's battle for Independence has been the subject of many novels in  recent months.  The brave men and women of our nation have been re-worked into some fine narratives and every child in the country celebrated this years centenary.  Olive Collins has added on something extra by bringing the story forward.  From the Rebellion, subsequent executions and treaty negotiations through to the end of civil war and its bitter aftermath.  She uses Betty, Isabel and their extended family to show how determination can sometimes lead to despair.  Betty's husband Seamus is a gifted man, full of musical talent and is an unparalleled creator of  exquisite violins. However, his Republican values outweigh his love of his personal life and he becomes increasingly distant from his family.  Late night visits, hidden arms and secret societies become the norm and Betty fears for her future.  Her hardened determination results in her own secrets.  As the years slip by,  the female descendants of Betty are unaware of the murky details of their matriarch's early years, until the discovery of some hidden letters...

Historical fiction can sometimes be weighed down by the authors research and the characters can become victims of their historical relevance.  This is not so with The Memory of Music.  While it is obvious that the author has an intensive knowledge of 20thC Irish History, especially the years surrounding our desire to break from English rule, she does not drown the reader with facts.  Rather, she gives enough detail to relate the characters to their situations and leaves the reader with a taster that may result in further research, if desired.  A teaser, if you like.  The writing is fluid and clear, with the novel split into three parts; the first part centered around the events of 1916, the second on Treaty negotiations and the War of Independence, whilst the final part leads the novel towards current times.  There are a gaggle of female, cross-generational characters in part three and I found myself struggling to retain their relevance to Seamus and Betty's story.  The idea of discovered letters is nothing new, but add in some torn photos and antique violins and furniture and it ups the game.  This is a great read, ideal for fans of Marita Conlon-McKenna's Rebel Sisters or RTÉ's recent TV drama, Rebellion.  A very worthy debut, ideally timed for the 1916 centenary celebrations and the upcoming anniversary of the War of Independence.  

The Memory of Music is published by Poolbeg Press and is available in TPB and ebook format.  You can order your copy, with 30% discount, HERE. The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

Book Review - 'The Accidental Wife' by Orla McAlinden

Northern Ireland has a history of secrets and lies.  Decades of religious, political and social turbulence have added extra tension to communities contained in the top corner of a small island.  The roots of one family have spread over the years and the extended clan all have their own lives; some content, some troubled.  This collection of short stories brings the individuals to life, connected by land, blood and family.  The overall package is a window into the minds of Northern Ireland's residents, young and old.

Orla McAlinden's knows first hand what it was like growing up during the Troubles.  From Portadown, she has memories that are all too real.  In her Q&A section, at the back of the book, she says:

 "I have written my own stories through the eyes of my characters.  But some events were pretty universal and some fears were absolutely shared among the entire population.  Every single person of my age or older knows someone who died, or was injured, or who committed these awful crimes, or ministered the wounded.  It's not possible to write a book about Northern Ireland's Trouble without stirring up memories belonging to other people." 

 There are stories from all age groups within the pages of The Accidental Wife.  From teenage Collette, who garners her control via her weight, through to elderly farmer, Alo, who craves a grandchild that may never arrive.  Generations of men and women continue their daily chores with a tremor of fear and uncertainty, not knowing what if feels like to live in a relaxed atmosphere.  Each story sheds a new light on the larger family unit.  Religious intolerance, racism, homophobia and sexism are all addressed and the patriarchal figures are blunt and inevitably lonely.  The younger generation are rising up the ranks but seem to be managing to screw things up just as nicely as their predecessors.  The Celtic Tiger appears and the light shines briefly on Northern Ireland, only to be extinguished in a flurry of abandoned buildings and dreams.  Throughout the narrative, human folly is at the forefront.  Sometimes you just can't blame politics or religion for your own personal failures.

The Accidental Wife is a raw and inspirational read.  The stories vary in pace and length, but each one is as deserved as the last.  The characters are brought to life using vivid and precise prose, with a litany of deceit, despair and disappointment blended in.  There are lighter moments peppered throughout, lending a more relaxed feel to the collection but the underlying atmosphere is one of tension.  This is an author with a sharp, concise and engaging literary edge.  McAlinden is sure to impress with her debut and is definitely one to watch out for.  Highly recommended.     

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway - 'My Husband's Wives' by Faith Hogan

Debut author Faith Hogan has invited me to tag along on her Summer Blog Hop.  To celebrate her  debut novel, My Husband's Wives, I have a review and Irish themed giveaway.  To be in with a chance of winning this silver-plated Ireland bookmark, just enter via rafflecopter link below. 

 Good Luck! (Open INT)

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MY REVIEW

When Paul Starr is killed in a car accident in Dublin, he leaves behind three grieving widows.  But they are not all aware of each others existence. The successful and charismatic doctor had charmed his way into the lives of these three vastly different women and he has left more than a tangled web of lies behind him.  There are also children involved.  Through the individual stories of  Grace, Evie and Annalise, the present becomes intermingled with the past as the women say goodbye to the man they all loved...

This is Faith Hogan's debut novel and it grabs the reader with its clever storyline.  Paul managed to charm the pants off three beautiful women, of varying ages and backgrounds, by placing them under his magnetic spell.  Each woman is then shocked to discover the existence of another young female, Kasia, who was in the car at the time of the accident.  The funeral arrangements see the beginning of their future connection and their individual personalities struggle to contain themselves.  How can these women move on without even knowing who Paul truly loved?

This is a very enjoyable read, written with care and delicate precision.  The descriptions of Evie's Howth home are wonderful and Annalise is a shallow character we can love to hate.  Grace is harder to identify with.  She set out to steal someone's husband and then changed her mind when things were not going her way.  Her daughter Delilah struggles to forgive her mother for Paul's desertion, and I can almost agree with her.  Kasia is an odd addition to the tale  but she blends in nicely with Evie.  While I felt nothing for Paul, and could not for the life of me see why these women would give their lives over to him, I did enjoy the story.  These women find out that it is not a man that they need.  It is friendship and confidence.  Faith Hogan is a new voice in Irish fiction and is ideal for fans of Colette Caddle and Cathy Kelly.

My Husband's Wives is published by Aria and is available in ebook format

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Book Review - "Cut To The Bone" by Alex Caan.

YouTube Vlogger, Ruby, has made it.  She has millions of followers, sponsorship deals and the adoration of a whole generation of young girls.  But she has gone missing.  A video is sent to her parents which shows her pleading for her life.  Ruby is in real danger and the whole world can watch her fear.  Detective Inspector Kate Riley is called in to investigate.  Along with her newest team member, Detective Sergeant Zain Harris, they need to understand the world of vlogging before they can attempt to locate Ruby.  But is it too late?

Alex Caan's debut thriller is a modern take on the genre of police procedural.  DI Kate Riley has her own past to contend with, let alone trying to keep up with corporate coding and YouTube sensations.  DS Harris also has baggage.  Recently transferred to London's Met, he needs to hide his traumatic past and learn to trust again.  The case originally seems like a regular missing person one, but why is it getting fast-tracked after such a short time?  There are far bigger elements involved in Ruby's disappearance and the team needs to scratch more than the surface to uncover some hidden truths.

The concept of a vlogger disappearing and then re-appearing under dreadful circumstances is very clever.  The YouTube generation think nothing of spending hours upon hours watching their favourite personalities testing products, playing video games, playing pranks on unsuspecting victims and even unwrapping parcels.  There is a vlog for pretty much everything and each vlogger has their own unique touch.  Ruby's is her honesty and integrity.  But what went wrong?  A web of deceit and lies seems to lay at the core of her disappearance.  Alex Caan brings the world of the Met to the forefront as they delve further and further into Ruby's online presence.  Kate and Zain are likable characters, who work well together on the page.  Their back stories were what interested me the most.   The world of coding and online agencies were a little too tedious for me and I wanted to know more about Ruby.  Why she began her vlog, who was she really, why were her parents acting so strangely?  The former MI5 and counter terrorism links were also wasted on me.  They have a real 'man-book' feel about them (Yes, Yes. I know that is a very sexist turn of phrase, but I think you get the gist.  All Jason Bourne-ish, Die Hard, guns, helicopters etc etc) and I just wanted to get to Ruby's story.  The novel is written in short, sharp chapters (which I love) but some seemed like one longer chapter bisected in order to keep chapter length down. I devoured the first third of the book.  The ending is fast-paced, thrilling and leaves the author free to write sequels galore.  I just lost interest in the tech angle and the secret police type story line.  In fairness, I think it is my personal mental block with this kind of thing.  I reckon my husband would love Cut To The Bone and I shall pass him the kindle very soon.  

I am actually curious to see how Kate and Zain get on in the inevitable sequel.  I liked their individual personalities, their chemistry and their potential.  There are plenty of thrills contained in these pages, with London as a delightful character.  I think I would prefer more focus on the human stories and less on the tech?  (Loved the St.Lucian dealer and Kate's housekeeper, for example).  Alex Caan is a new-kid-on-the-block author, and is definitely one to watch...   

Cut To The Bone is published by Twenty7 books and is currently available in ebook format, with the PB released on 3rd Nov 2016.  You can order via amazon link below: 

Book Review - 'They All Fall Down' by Cat Hogan.

I received a copy of this title, from the publisher, in return for an honest review...

A small fishing village in Ireland is the setting for an unusual set of circumstances.  Jen has inherited a house with a lodger and is slowly falling for his charms.  Andy is a widowed fisherman, gentle of spirit and he awakens something within Jen.  Their chemistry is obvious but she is afraid to act on it.  Scott is the fisherman's sinister friend, determined to keep the pair apart.  But why?

Single Mum, Jen, has uneasy feelings toward Scott from the get-go.  He is a dark shadow that seems to appear at the worst possible times and is the complete opposite of his best friend.  Rich, suave and a complete snob, he steps over people to get what he wants in life.  These includs Jen, her friends and anyone else he sees as a threat.  Tense dinner parties, subtle threats and many, many secrets all become part of Scott's larger plan.

This is Cat Hogan's debut novel and the title refers to an old playground song, Ring-a-ring-o' Roses.  Although there is no real connection to this rhyming tune, the house of cards that Scott is trying to control does require a lot of balancing.  The novel opens with a short, sinister prelude, on a cliff edge.  The story begins with an introduction to Jen and her son, Danny, and how they have ended up in their little cottage with Andy as a lodger.  There is then a strong chapter which gives the reader a glimpse into the dark and seedy mind of Scott, who obviously has more than a bit of the Norman Bates about him.  The novel then heads off in a different direction, with many characters (mostly friends of Jens) appearing and lots of name-repeating in each sentence of the dialogue.  The second half picks up a little pace as Scott's obsession becomes irrational and Jen seems to be the only one who can see it.  The story then shifts up a notch and sprints towards its ending.  

Cat Hogan obviously has a love of the sea, its lighthouses, its beaches and its overall atmosphere.  There are moments when you can almost feel the breeze and taste the salt air on the tip of your tongue.  I would have liked to have more visuals of the village, the pub, the local shop etc, to add a little more to the story.  The ongoing mention of characters names, within dialogue, can be jarring for a reader but that is a personal issue that not everyone notices.  This is a clever debut, with a despicable bad guy balancing out the fair and sweet protagonist.  Andy is a dream lodger, for any fresh-blooded female and one can definitely see how Jen would fall for him.  I'm just not sure he would ever be friends with Scott or fall for his continuous lies.  I look forward to see what direction Cat Hogan will lead us in with book two.  She is not afraid of the dark side of a story, which a great thriller really needs, and I hope she delves even further into the murky minds of some fictional characters in the future.

They All fall Down is published by Poolbeg and is available in TPB and ebook format.

Book Review - "My Name Is Leon" by Kit de Waal.

I received a copy of this title from the publishers, in return for an honest review...

Nine-year-old Leon has been placed in care, along with his baby brother, Jake.  His Mum is not able to take care of them and social services need to find them new homes as soon as possible.  Jake is adopted fairly quickly, as not only is he a baby, but he is white.  This is the early 1980s and mixed-race kids, like Leon, are not as easy to pass off as your own.  It's hard enough being a foster child, with the uncertainty it brings, let alone having your family ripped apart.  Leon dreams of finding his brother and taking charge of their lives.  But where does he start?

There has been no shortage of fiction about adoption, the children usually grown-up and searching for their heritage.  When it comes to fostering, there has been no shortage of 'non-fiction' titles (usually with a close up picture of a child's tears on the cover), lording about how the most amazing foster mother in the world has 'rescued' children, like never before, all whilst hugging them to her ample bosom and feeding them fish-fingers and chocolate digestives.  There are many harrowing stories in the media about foster children who have slipped through the cracks, been placed in abusive households or suffered at the negligence of the social services.  But what about the average child in care?  What about the foster parents (myself included) who just want to give a child a chance in a safe and loving family environment.  Fostering does NOT always mean drama.  Usually the biggest drama is the endless bureaucracy and form-filling.  This is why I approach fiction featuring foster children with caution.  When this book landed here, early this year, I picked it up with the intention of just reading the first few pages and  then adding to my ever-growing pile of To-Be-Read titles.  What I hadn't figured on was that I would be sucked into Leon's world. Completely hooked on his story. 

The circumstances of Leon's placement are nothing new.  A mother, overwhelmed and lacking the mental strength to look after two young children.  Leon has been the main care-giver thus far but baby Jake is getting bigger and their neighbours begin to fear for their safety. The author brings the reader into the mind of Leon.  He can't understand why he has been separated from his brother.  He wonders if he will ever be wanted himself.  When his foster mother becomes ill and sends him to stay with her friend, Sylvia,  he feels lost and alone.  As he cycles through the area, he discovers an allotment and a it becomes his own world of escapism.  He can hide, pretend he is someone else and even find new friends.  But these friends are adults, with their own issues.  In the middle of England's race-riots, Leon struggles to find an identity, all while planning his reunion with his brother. 

"But no one cares about me.  No one cares about my brother [...] But no one cares about that.  I can't see him.  I keep asking and asking but you only care about yourself.  Everyone steals things from me." 

This may be Kit de Waal's debut novel, but she has touched on an age-old issue.  Fostering can still be a taboo subject, even in our so-called liberal age, and one thing has not changed; the children are blameless.  They are victims of circumstance and should not be categorized as anything but children.  They deserve the same opportunities in life as any other child. They are usually highly-astute, with an uncanny ability to see/hear/feel things that we may have not noticed ourselves.  This book cleverly shows how they intuitively know when they are being discussed and how they can become invisible in the blink of an eye.  The 1980s setting gives the book an added dimension, with Charles and Diana's wedding, street parties and racial stigma making appearances.  The characters are varied, of different classes and backgrounds, multi-cultural and yet all thrown together in a troubled England.   This is not 'misery-lit'. It's not fantastical fiction. It is the very real voice of a child in care.  The frustration, the anger, the insecurity and the endless uncertainty.  But it is also a story of friendship, love and family.  Sometimes blood is not enough.  Sometimes water is a lot thicker than it looks.

A truly memorable novel, to be read by anyone with a heart...

Ideal for fans of Elizabeth is Missing and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.

My Name Is Leon is published by Viking and is available in HB and ebook editions.

You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, here .  Also available via amazon link below:

Book Review - "What She Never Told Me" by Kate McQuaile

I received a copy of this title, from the publishers, in return for an honest review...

Louise has returned to Ireland as he mother is dying.  Unanswered questions about her father are foremost in her mind, but her mother sheds no light.  A small discovery unearths a pathway to her past and she abandons her London life to delve further into the unknown.  Her marriage has disintegrated and her Irish past is calling her.  Recurring dreams unsettle her and she wonders just how real they actually are.  What has her mother neglected to tell her?  Does she really want to know? 

This debut from Irish author, Kate McQuaile, is neither 'thriller' nor 'female fiction'.  It has been referred to as 'Grip-Lit', in recent newspaper articles. I'm not a huge fan of this label as it implies that is only for female readers.  It is more a study of character and how one responds to secrets.  How many of us have discovered something that sheds a completely new light on our past and maybe even our future?  Can we presume that we have been given the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?  In the days before google and social media, it was not all that hard to keep a secret.  It is really only one generation back that we can spot inconsistent recollections of relatives, friends and neighbours.  In this novel the protagonist, Louise, has already been driven a hard blow by her failed marriage and now has to say goodbye to her mother.  Although she had a wonderful family life, her biological father was never mentioned and she is uncertain of her mother's honesty.  When she begins to renovate the Drogheda home she has inherited, she finds some cards which make no sense.  Here begins her search for answers.  Flying back and forth between London and the Co. Louth bungalow, she realises she needs to find her roots.  Both in her past and in her, now uncertain, future.

As I live in Co. Louth, with my small village only ten minutes from the historic town of Drogheda, I felt as if the book was written with me in mind.  There were strolls on Bettystown Beach, mentions of St. Oliver Plunkett's Head on display in St. Peter's church, descriptions of the north and south side of the River Boyne and of the hilly streets of the walled town.  Most Irish novels are based in Dublin, Cork, Galway or in the rural villages that are scattered all over our island.  It was an absolute pleasure to read one that is situated in an area within walking distance (well, a long walk).  However, this novel encompasses two main locations and two main narratives; London, Louth and the lives of Louise and her mother, Marjorie.  The story unfolds at a steady pace, until the last part where everything comes together in a sudden spurt.  The writing is delicate and descriptive and definitely holds the readers attention.  I did foresee the ending quite early on in the novel, but as I'm a voracious reader, I wouldn't be put off by this.  Kate McQuaile deserves a chance.  She is a talented writer of contemporary fiction who should appeal to readers of Louise Candlish and Dorothy Koomson.  There is more story than suspense, which shows her ability to use words rather than ideas.

This is a strong debut and I'm delighted to see Co. Louth in fiction.   Well done Quercus for discovering more Irish literary talent!

What She Never Told Me is published by Quercus and is available in TBP and ebook format.  You can order your copy with 15% discount and Free Worldwide Postage HERE.  The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

Book Review - "The Last Days of Summer" by Vanessa Ronan.

I received a copy of this title from the publishers in return for an honest review...

Lizzie's brother is released from prison and returning to the family home where his sister and her daughters now reside.  In the small town, in the heart of prairie land, it is not a homecoming to celebrate.  Jasper is not wanted by the locals and his return is unwelcome.  Lizzie accepts his return as her lot but tried to shelter her daughters from the animosity that surrounds her brothers presence.  Katie is a typical teenager, trying to appear non-plussed by her uncle, while her younger sister, Joanne, is curious as to why he his hated so much.  Can Lizzie protect her girls from the bitter tensions building in their small community?  Was the decision to allow her brother to return the biggest mistake of her life?  Is a blood bond enough to carry the burden of a brothers crime?  As the heat soars and the atmosphere becomes heavy, this tale of a summer in small-town America becomes a narrative on family, feuds and forgiveness...

Sometimes a book can etch away at your senses to the extent that it enters your bloodstream.  The Last Days of Summer does just that.  Lizzie and Jasper's hometown is insular and choked with tension.  The single mother never questions her decision to allow Jasper to return to their home but she struggles with the effect he is having on her small family.  Already stigmatised, they continue to keep their heads down and carve their existence into the vast landscape.  Abandoned by her husband after Jasper's arrest, Lizzie has retreated within herself.  Her eldest daughter, Katie, works in the local diner, dates the popular guy and tries to ignore the disruption that comes from Jaspers re-appearance.  Eleven year old  Joanne is at an age where anything new is to be appreciated and explored and she hovers around her uncle with an inquisitive innocence.  The family are treated with distrust, distaste and are on constant alert.  Lizzie battles with her unbalanced feelings towards her brother and attempts to holds her head up high, for her own sake as well as for her sibling.  This is a debut that tests your emotions.  It reaches into your soul and grabs at parts of you that are unexplored, underused or ignored.  The prose is neat and tidy, yet contains some moments of  unadulterated evil alongside exquisite beauty.  There are echos of Steinbeck throughout, with the landscape becoming a momentous character in itself, and the examinations of family commitment, responsibility and pride are ever-present.  Seeing the world from a curious eleven year old's eyes, juxtaposed against the dark mind of a convicted criminal, does not take away from the bond that they share.  There are tear-inducing passages in this novel that are more to do with innocence than despair.  There are moments of pure hatred alongside descriptions of the vast sprawling plains of the prairie and the writing is so meticulous that it makes your skin tingle.  Scenes of  mundane family chores, evenings on the wooden porch and limited conversations between two generations of siblings are all part of the overall package of this study of human emotion.  This is a family who struggle to maintain their credibility and their right to belong within a community unwilling to forget.  It is a novel of substance and atmosphere.  Vanessa Ronan has brought the tradition of the great American novel and inserted it firmly into the contemporary world.  If you can remember the delicate description of a slow moving turtle in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath or the intense heat of a southern summer in The Color Purple, then the swaying grasses and airborn insects of The Last Days of Summer are sure to resound with you.  

Sometimes a novel touches you.  Sometimes it lingers.  Then, there are novels that become part of your own personal canon.  This debut is the latter.  It is simply divine.

The Last Days of Summer is published by Penguin and is available in TPB and ebook format.

Book Review - "The Teacher" by Katerina Diamond.

I received a copy of this title, for review purposes, from netgalley.com...

The head teacher of a prominent fee-paying school has been found hanging on school property.  Suicide seems likely and foul play is ruled out.  That is, until the body count increases and the intensity of the crimes raises at astonishing levels.  

Disgraced Detective Adrian Miles is partnered with another 'rogue' officer, DS Imogen Grey, and together they try to piece together the lives of the victims while dodging false leads.   

Meanwhile, the quiet life of a museum taxidermist, Abbey Lucas, is not all it appears to be.  Abbey is harboring a secret and trying to escape her past.  But while she preserves the bodies of dead animals, the bodies of humans are piling up...

This is debut designed for the strong-stomached reader.  Graphic descriptions and macabre memories from the outset make this a deliciously dark novel.  The unknown killer is giving a cloak of secrecy, both his identity and his motive, and the clues are drip-fed to us in varying chapters.  The characters are a wonderful mix of nasty and nice, each with their own quirks and agendas.  Detectives Miles and Grey are a great team, with their own shame and despair seeping into their investigation, albeit unofficially.  The murders are intense affairs, with lots of blood, guts and symbolism, but each with an apparent link.  There is food for thought at times with a nod to the darker side of life:

"Everyone has a secret behaviour they are ashamed of, something inside that constantly tried to force its way out.  We all have something that will not be denied."

A serial killer is nothing new within fiction, but this story, along with its great police-duo, is up with the best of them.  A bizarre narrative is balanced by clear and concise writing, endearing characters and a clever location (I'm a bit fan of museums and all the secrets and history they hold).  Katerina Diamond has created a pacy, powerful debut which will have her readers begging for more from Miles and Grey.  The Teacher is ideal for fans of gritty thrillers, more murky than mundane...

The Teacher is published on 10th March 2016 in paperback and ebook format and be pre-ordered now.

Book Review - Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris. Pub 11 Feb 2016.

I received an ARC of this title, from the publishers, for review purposes...

The Perfect Couple.  We all know one, right?  The beautiful, adoring wife.  The handsome and successful husband.  A home straight from the pages of a magazine.  A life we are supposed to aspire to.  But, sometimes there is just something not quite right with the picture.  An uneasy feeling perhaps?  A random stray thought entering our minds?  What is it really like behind their closed doors?  Is it all rosy in the garden or are there shades of grey mixed in with all the light beaming down from their happiness?

Jack and Grace are one such perfect couple.  He, a prominent lawyer, is a voice for victims of domestic abuse and an enigmatic, charismatic addition to any party.  She, a stay at home wife, is the epitome of elegance, always immaculately turned out, standing proudly at her husbands side.  Although they have no children they plan on becoming full-time guardians of Grace's sister, Millie, who lives in a care facility.  The family will be complete and their perfect life can only get better. Or can it?  One new member of their social circle has noticed that she can never seem to get Grace alone and she senses a tense undercurrent in the air.  Grace may appear to have it all, but something just doesn't seem right.  The doors to their beautiful home are firmly shut and their lives shrouded in abstract glory.  How long before someone cracks through the facade?

This a debut to die for.  Although not published until Spring 2016, it is well worth pre-ordering and devouring on publication day.  B.A. Paris uses clever techniques and skillful writing to bring us into the pastel-perfect world of Grace and Jack.  One where white, well pressed clothing can be practical, houses are to be admired rather than lived in and appearances are not always what they seem..  The tension builds up from the very first chapter, when we see Grace stuffing forbidden chocolates into her mouth while defiantly looking at her husband.  They are holding a dinner party for friends and the atmosphere is slightly off-kilter, although mostly unobserved by their guests.  Jack is obviously not what he seems and as the reader turns the pages, it is with great unease.  What will we discover?  Is Grace a victim of circumstance or has Jack just chosen the wrong kind of wife?  How can anyone maintain such a perfect lifestyle without cracking up?  Why are only some of the rooms in their house available to view?  The questions keep building and the pages almost turn themselves.  I intended to read this book at my leisure as the publication date was in the distant future, but this grabbed me from page one and I devoured every thrilling paragraph.  This is a psychological thriller that would make every train journey, bus trip or lunchtime coffee break go at breakneck speed.  Just be careful you don't miss your stop, or forget to get back to work.  A highly addictive, top class debut from a chilling new voice in fiction.  This novel will have you examining those so-called perfect couples you know, and wondering what really does go on behind closed doors...

Highly Recommended. 

Behind Closed Doors will be published in paperback and ebook format by Harlequin Mira on 11 Feb 2016.  You can pre-order your copy from amazon link below:

"Eggshells" by Caitriona Lally.

I received a copy of this title, from the publishers, in return for an honest review...

Vivian is not great at social interaction.  Actually, Vivian is extremely awkward in company and can go days without speaking to another human being.  A grown-up orphan, she lives in an inherited house in Dublin's North inner city.  She has sporadic contact with her sister, also called Vivian, and avoids her neighbours as much as possible.  However, she would like to have friends, have a purpose to her days and someone to bounce her random thoughts off.  Lemonfish, her decrepit goldfish, is not one for  words, so she advertises for a friend.  But Vivian, being the individual that she is, only wants a friend called Penelope.  No nicknames, like Pen or Penny.  She has her reasons, one being her love for certain words and their formations.  When she receives a reply, Vivian embraces the idea of friendship, despite initial reservations, and travels outside her comfort zone.  The reader is brought on a memorable journey, through the streets of  Dublin, where Vivian looks upon the city from a unique angle.  She sees places, landmarks and road signs unlike most of us.  She sees colours where we may see grey, history in place names long ignored and symmetry that is taken for granted.  But can one survive the streets of Dublin when unable to converse to an acceptable norm?  Vivian walks the streets, to a certain pattern, determined to find answers within the city limits...

Vivian may be the most endearing character I have encountered in modern Irish fiction.  Like Jonesy, from Donal Ryan's The Thing About December, there is a raw, honest and innocent feel about her.  Caitriona Lally shuns the label of  'mental illness' and shows how the most intelligent minds can often hide behind the facade of awkwardness and insecurity.  Vivian's personal hygene, for example, is atrocious, as she doesn't see the need to conform to the 'norm'.  She is afraid of her own reflection and sees no need to change her clothes on a regular basis.  To her, food is fuel, money is for the bare basics and the real goal in life is to find harmony in words, on the streets, in history and in books.  When she makes an effort to conform, albeit in her typical unusual way, there are hilarious consequences.    A trip to the hairdressers in the City's largest department store actually made me laugh aloud, while her attempts to gain the friendship of a taxi driver had a mixture of humour and sadness blended together.   Vivian's sister is riddled with sibling embarrassment and disdain, yet she is aware that she is tied to her namesake forever.  Their interaction is uncomfortable from her perspective, yet her oblivious sister tries her best to blend into their family unit.  

Lally has created a character which will remain forever etched in my mind.  Vivian is a woman who many would cross the road to avoid, yet could enrich the lives of others.  Her idiosyncrasies may seem extreme and would make you wonder if such a character would survive without access to cash on a regular basis (not really touched on in the novel).  But, this is fiction, and like The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simpsion, Eggshells is such a clever read, using the protagonist as a way of making the reader question the accepted 'norms' of our everyday lives.  There is a also a touch of magic injected into Dublin's Northside, which is a welcome change to the more fiction-populated areas on the Southside.  No need for leafy suburbs and canal walks, when Vivian shows the hidden gems on the other side of the Liffey.  Some may say that not much happens in this debut novel.  I would disagree.  It is full of sincerity, spacial awareness, a reverse view of today's expectations and an massively memorable character.  Highly recommended for lovers of Irish literary fiction...  

Eggshells is published by Liberties Press and is available in paperback and ebook format.

You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, here.  The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

#IrishFictionFortnight - Day 14 - "My Buried Life" by Doreen Finn. Feature and Giveaway.

Thanks to New Island, there is a paperback edition of this title to giveaway for #IrishFictionFortnight.  Just enter via rafflecopter link below.  Good Luck!

IRISH FUNERALS IN FICTION by Margaret Madden

Irish funerals have a way about them.  They are an event in themselves.  Funeral homes are indeed used, but the further into the countryside you go, the more likely you are to attend a wake.  Irish people love a good funeral.  The best clothes are brought out, the homemade baking is wrapped in the nicest tea-towels and miles and miles of sandwiches are made. (Mostly ham and cheese, or egg salad).  People genuinely want to pay their respects, and must be seen to shake the hand of the bereaved, stand solemnly at a graveside or mention how wonderful the embalmed body looks in the open coffin.  There is no malice, just a need to be part of the gathering and there is always a gallon or two of tea to be had.  

If you do a google search of funerals in Irish fiction you will see some of our nations finest authors there.  James Joyce, John McGahern, Anne Enright et al.  However,  I have read two exquisitely crafted accounts of Irish funerals in recent years.  One was Donal Ryan's The Thing About December and the other was the opening chapters of this  novel, My Buried Life, from Doreen Finn.  

Both are set in recent times, both detail the days surrounding death and burial and both describe the reaction of the community to the passing of one of their own.  One in a country town, one in Dublin.  Donal Ryan uses his character, Johnsie to describe the women of the Irish Country Women's Association gathering in the home of a recently deceased man. 

"Sure why wouldn't they have been mad about their little crathur, Mother said to Molly Kinsella the day Dwyer died and a few of the ICA biddies had gathered in Johnsie's mother's kitchen to pick at the tragedy like crows picking at a flungaway snackbox."

  

In Doreen Finn's debut, her protagonist has returned from the US to bury her estranged mother.  Years of hostility and bitterness have brewed up inside her, and coming home is the last thing she wants.  The funeral is described from the eyes of a cynical, tired woman who has not set foot in Ireland for decades and feels nothing at the passing of her mother.

"Wet hands press my cold flesh.  Murmured words sweep over me, blending in a toneless wash of indecipherable sound.  Earth hits the coffin lid.  Thwack.  I try to focus on the eyes that line up in front of me, jet lag and a headache distancing me further from the kindness and awkward, fumbled mumbles of sympathy and solidarity."

While funerals may vary from county to county, and village to village, there is always a certainty that you will see people there that are serial funeral go-ers.  They go to see and be seen,, shake hands with the bereaved and eat paper-platefuls of triangle shaped sandwiches, all washed down with super-strength tea.  Sure, tea is the answer to everything...

THE BLURB

What happens when you no longer recognise the person you have become? 

Eva has managed to spend her twenties successfully hiding from herself in New York. 

Attempting to write, but really only writing her epitaph, she returns to Ireland to confront the past that has made her what she is. 

In prose that is hauntingly beautiful and delicate, Doreen Finn explores a truly complex and fascinating character with deft style and unflinching honesty. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Doreen Finn was born in Dublin. She was educated at UCD, and holds a degree in English and Spanish, and a Master s in Education. She has lived in Madrid and Los Angeles, and currently resides in Dublin with her husband and two small children. My Buried Life is her first novel


My Buried Life is published by New Island and is available in paperback and ebook format.  You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage and 15% discount, here.  The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

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#IrishFictionFortnight - Day 14 - "Spill Simmer Falter Wither" by Sara Baume. Review and Giveaway.

"This is my favourite novel of the decade"

Thanks to Tramp Press, there are two copies of this award-winning debut novel to be won.  Just enter via rafflecopter link below.  Good Luck! 

MY REVIEW

One man and his dog.  Not an original idea, but this is no ordinary novel.  

This is my favourite novel of the decade.  

This debut comes from the winner of  2014 Davy Byrnes Award, so I had a sneaky suspicion that I was starting to read something special.  It took me about thirty seconds of reading to know, rather than suspect, that this was a novel to be savoured.  From the prologue, to each individual chapter (each attributed to a season) and from paragraph to line, I slowly inhaled the story and let it take over.  I was transported from a cold bedroom in Co. Louth to the rural villages of the Irish Midlands, stopping off in the odd coastal towns.  The potholed roads, the long twisting laneways, the silent main streets and the family run pubs and petrol stations.  What a change from the usual dual carriageways of our daily lives.  As I turned the pages, I was reluctant to do so.  The knowledge that I had to finish this book was something that I was ignoring, instead choosing to place my bookmark in with hesitation and delaying the inevitable.  I would place the book at arms length, glance at it, close my eyes and re-read the latest pages in my mind.  Now, I am aware that that this makes me sound slightly deranged, but those who know me can surely picture it.   Eventually, I could hold off no more.  The bookmark was removed for the last time and I faced the final pages.  I felt like I was losing a friend.  I was almost certain how the ending was going to shape up, and I was in denial.  A big deep breath and it was over. 

 I am still a bit bereft.  

The protagonist in this tale is not named, however the mystery of his name is easily solved.  He has a diminished mental capacity which makes him the same level as a child of approximately nine years old.  The reader is left to imagine this gentle giant with an abundance of innocence and years of loneliness and isolation.  He adopts an ex-badger baiting dog, who he christens OneEye, and here begins an incomprehensible story of devotion.  

Sara Baume has taken the idea of friendship to a new level, in my opinion.  The 'companionship' concept does not come close to the depth of feeling described in this novel.  A child may feel this way about a special blanket, sobbing uncontrollably when parted from it.  A recently widowed man may have a shadow of this feeling visible across his face.  A mother may feel this as she watches her son head off to war.  Such is the depth of the friendship between Ray and OneEye.  Each chapter is sprinkled with seasonal sensations and each line is written with the most sensual prose I have encountered from a contemporary author.  The mood, the tempo, the minimal dialogue and the outstanding descriptive passages made for an emotional journey, albeit on a small island with basically just one character.    I could go on to reveal more plot line and quote some of the poetic verses contained within the narrative, but I am going to leave that to the lucky person who is reading this novel for the first time.  I can never have that honour again, but will certainly enjoy my re-reads.

A massive congratulations to Sara Baume and Tramp Press.  You have raised the bar for Irish, and International, fiction...

Spill Simmer Falter Wither is published by the amazing team at Tramp Press.  The title is available in paperback and you can get your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage and 12% discount, here.  

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#IrishFictionFortnight - Day 2 - 'Skin Paper Stone' by Máire T. Robinson. Review and Giveaway.

Thanks to New Island Books, I have a copy of this title for one lucky reader.  I was fortunate enough to review this earlier in the year, and was instantly a fan of this debut author.  To enter for a chance to win a PB edition of this book, just click rafflecopter link below.  Here is a recap of my review:

A mature student, a struggling artist and a small time drug dealer cross paths at a Galway house party and while their lives are all varied, they each have their own story to tell.   Stevie is embarking on her PhD in medieval history and is hopeful that she can now begin to live her life in a broader sense.  Joe (Kavanagh) is still not sure what he wants to be when he grows up, despite completing an art degree.  He has a mash-up of temporary jobs, a penchant for booze and weed and dreams of tattooing tourists in Thailand.  Pajo is a stereotypical, wannabe drug dealer with a small-mind and big ideas.  He treats his women as bad as he can, yet they keep coming back for more.  The aspirations of these fictional residents of Galway are limited and the stories inevitably cross over during the course of the novel.

  

The advance reviews for this title were strong.  Comparisons were made to some of Ireland's modern literary talents and the front cover quote from Nuala Ní Chonchúir, which states  'This is a writer who is here to stay' is a fine accolade for a debut author.  The stunning, and ethereal, cover design is also note worthy for its effective simplicity.  It cries to be picked up from a display shelf of over-thought paperback designs, and the need to turn the wrist and read the back cover is almost instinctual.  The blurb is fairly generic and conceals the high standard of writing and depth of the narrative, actually understating the overall package of this piece.  This is not just an average story of boy meets girl or friend becoming foe.  It's a story of cause and effect.  How a new friendship can change your perspective on life, how your goal posts can shift as the days and weeks progress.  How one persons idea of love is another's nightmare.  The power of  overwhelming expectations, from within , is part of Stevie's story.  What she had envisioned as a fulfilling journey, through academia,  brings old scars to the surface and she attempts to ignore the warning signs.  Kavanagh is loved up, beginning to see his future on the horizon and even plans his great escape from Galway.  Meanwhile, Pajo is concerned with an attempt to muscle in on his business and keeps his ear to the ground, while keeping his women on their knees, literally.

There are some razor-sharp  observations among the 250 pages of this book.  The characters hop off the page and take on a life of their own.  Galway is described honestly and without rose-tinted glasses.  Admirably,  the author tells of the local's boredom, and often resentfulness, of the 'Irishness' of the City.  The continuous playing of Galway Girl in the shops and pubs, the 'traditional' meals served in restaurants and the annual influx of tourists are hard to avoid in such a small area.  There is a common thread with each character.  They each have little or no dealings with their families.  They have escaped to Galway, not realising that it can be just as cloying there as in the family home.  

Not a huge amount happens in this novel.  Just like real life, the humour comes from everyday happenings, ordinary people and one-off occurrences.  The kind of 'you'd have to have been there'  moments, that we have all come across.  There is a bohemian feel throughout the book, the characters each having a spirit of freedom that comes with having no responsibility.  A mixture of dark comedic scenes, fantastic characters (Gavin, a fellow PhD fellow was just incredibly funny) and powerful writing make this an assertive debut.  A new voice in literary fiction, but a confident one.  

Skin Paper Stone is published by New Island and is available in paperback and ebook format.

You can order your paperback copy here, with Free Worldwide Postage and 15% discount or the ebook via amazon link below:

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