Orenda Blog Tour - Deity

 

TITLE: Deity (Six Stories #5)

AUTHOR: Matt Wesolowski   

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: February 18, 2021

PAGES:320    

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: 

Online investigative journalist Scott King investigates the death of a pop megastar, the subject of multiple accusations of sexual abuse and murder before his untimely demise in a fire … another episode of the startlingly original, award-winning Six Stories series.  

When pop megastar Zach Crystal dies in a fire at his remote mansion, his mysterious demise rips open the bitter divide between those who adored his music and his endless charity work, and those who viewed him as a despicable predator, who manipulated and abused young and vulnerable girls. 

Online journalist Scott King, whose ‘Six Stories’ podcasts have become an internet sensation, investigates the accusations of sexual abuse and murder that were levelled at Crystal before he died. But as Scott begins to ask questions and rakes over old graves, some startling inconsistencies emerge: Was the fire at Crystal’s remote home really an accident? Whose remains – still unidentified – were found in the ashes? Why was he never officially charged? 

Dark, chillingly topical and deeply thought-provoking, Deity is both an explosive thriller and a startling look at how heroes can fall from grace and why we turn a blind eye to even the most heinous of crimes…

MY THOUGHTS: First of all, I think this cover is stunning, and if it doesn't scream "horror" than the author's promotional pick does!  And you know how much I love horror.  I was a tad hesitant going into this one because it is part of a sequel but seriously, that didn't create any reading problems for me. Well, maybe that isn't true because now I need to go to back and read his previous works.  

I adored the concept of this novel. It focuses on a podcast investigator which is an element I love to see in books.  It also has the celebrity connection I also enjoy.  Zach Crystal, a huge popstar, dies when his mansion burns.  This is all fresh upon allegations of abuse of young girls.  Scott King, opens an investigation on his podcast in which he interviews six people, and then leaves the listerer/reader to determine what they thing really happened.  

This book really showed the dark side of fame and how people can sometimes be the biggest monsters of all.  In addition, it takes a real hard look at how people in the public eye can often get away with things because of who they are and their standing in society.  I can't stress enough how much you should pick up this book.  I will definitely be going back and starting at the beginning of this series and Wesolowski is definitely an author to watch.  I see great things in his future and I'm so glad I was able to participate in the blog tour for this one!

RATING: 5 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Wesolowski is an author from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK. He is an English tutor for young people in care. Matt started his writing career in horror, and his short horror fiction has been published in numerous UK- and US-based anthologies, such as Midnight Movie Creature, Selfies from the End of the World, Cold Iron and many more. His novella, The Black Land, a horror set on the Northumberland coast, was published in 2013. Matt was a winner of the Pitch Perfect competition at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in 2015. His debut thriller, Six Stories, was an Amazon bestseller in the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia, and a WHSmith Fresh Talent pick, and film rights were sold to a major Hollywood studio. A prequel, Hydra, was published in 2018 and became an international bestseller. Changeling, the third book in the series, was published in 2019 and was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. His fourth book, Beast, won the Amazon Publishing Readers’ Independent Voice Book of the Year award in 2020.

Orenda Blog Tour - The Coral Bride

 

TITLE: The Coral Bride

AUTHOR: Roxanne Bouchard

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: November 12, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

In this beautiful, lyrical sequel to the critically acclaimed We Were the Salt of the Sea, Detective Moralès finds that a seemingly straightforward search for a missing fisherwoman off Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula is anything but …

When an abandoned lobster trawler is found adrift off the coast of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, DS Joaquin Moralès begins a straightforward search for the boat’s missing captain, Angel Roberts – a rare female in a male-dominated world. But Moralès finds himself blocked at every turn – by his police colleagues, by fisheries bureaucrats, and by his grown-up son, who has turned up at his door with a host of his own personal problems. 

When Angel’s body is finally discovered, it’s clear something very sinister is afoot, and Moralès and son are pulled into murky, dangerous waters, where old resentments run deep.

Exquisitely written, with Bouchard’s trademark lyrical prose, The Coral Bride evokes the power of the sea on the communities who depend on it, the never-ending struggle between the generations, and an extraordinary mystery at the heart of both.  

MY THOUGHTS: One thing I love about participating in Orenda Book Tours is that their works always take me to places I normally don't read about a lot. This time it's a fishing town in Quebec and the book is filled with atmosphere and an insight into fishing communities dominated by men and somewhat old-fashioned traditions.

DS Morales has recently moved to the area and is soon faced with the suspicious death of a female fishing Captain.  Morales does not believe it was a suicide and takes on the task of determining what really happened.  On top of all the stressors of work, his adult son has just returned home with some drama of his own meaning Morales has quite a bit on his plate. 

I really enjoyed the mystery element of this book which was combined with just enough domestic drama.  Bouchard also introduces some pretty eccentric side characters which added some extra complications to the tale.  It is also obvious that Bouchard is writing about something she loves as she does a great job of placing the reader into this fishing community and sharing an atmosphere which is pretty obvious she has personally experienced.

While the pacing wasn't exactly action-packed, it was consistent and fit the tone of the book magically.  I would definitely recommend lover's of translated fiction give this one a go as I felt the translator did a wonderful job and managed to make the story ebb and flow similar to the sea which factors so heavily within the plot.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Over ten years ago, Roxanne Bouchard decided it was time she found her sea legs. So she learned to sail, first on the St Lawrence River, before taking to the open waters off the Gaspé Peninsula. The local fishermen soon invited her aboard to reel in their lobster nets, and Roxanne saw for herself that the sunrise over Bonaventure never lies. Her fifth novel (first translated into English) We Were the Salt of the Sea was published in 2018 to resounding critical acclaim, sure to be followed by its sequel, The Coral Bride. She lives in Quebec.

Orenda Books Blog Tour - Fallen Angels

 

TITLE: Fallen Angels

AUTHOR: Gunnar Staalesen

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: November 12, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

When Bergen PI Varg Veum finds himself at the funeral of a former classmate on a sleet-grey December afternoon, he’s unexpectedly reunited with his old friend Jakob – guitarist of the once-famous 1960s rock band The Harpers – and his estranged wife, Rebecca, Veum’s first love. 

Their rekindled friendship is thrown into jeopardy by the discovery of a horrific murder, and Veum is forced to dig deep into his own adolescence and his darkest memories, to find a motive … and a killer. Tense, vivid and deeply unsettling, Fallen Angels is the spellbinding, award-winning thriller that secured Gunnar Staalesen’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost crime writers.

MY THOUGHTS: When I saw mention of a old classmate reunion and a 60s rock band, I knew I had to give this book a chance.  And once again, Orenda didn't let me down.  Sometimes I struggle with translated works but not the case with Fallen Angels.

While this is a slow paced book, I can say that it still managed to hold my interest.  It's told in dual timelines so the reader gets to see the present days 80s when Veum is attending the funeral of an old classmate.  While there he runs into an old friend, Jakob, and his wife, Rebecca.  The only problem is Rebecca just happens to be Veum's first love.  As the book progresses we get a good look at the relationships of the past and start to see why Veum suspects that the death of his classmate might be a murder instead, especially when a second death soon follows.  

I really enjoyed getting to know Veum even though I understand there are previous books in this series.  I think he is portrayed very humanly and we see him in all his struggles as well as successes.  The author also manages to weave in feelings of first love and both the family and religious dynamics which played a part of his childhood.  I will admit I suspected where the book was headed but I loved it nonetheless. 

It seems some if this series has already been adapted for movies and hopefully this winter, when the snow is falling and the wind is blowing, I will be able to locate a few to watch.  If you like slow burn Nordic Noir books, then add this one to your lists to check out!

RATING: 4 PAWS

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: One of the fathers of Nordic Noir, Gunnar Staalesen was born in Bergen, Norway, in 1947. He made his debut at the age of twenty-two with Seasons of Innocence and in 1977 he published the first book in the Varg Veum series. He is the author of over twenty titles, which have been published in twenty-four countries and sold over four million copies. Twelve film adaptations of his Varg Veum crime novels have appeared since 2007, starring the popular Norwegian actor Trond Espen Seim. Staalesen has won three Golden Pistols (including the Prize of Honour) and Where Roses Never Die won the 2017 Petrona Award for Nordic Crime Fiction, and Big Sister was shortlisted in 2019. He lives with his wife in Bergen.

Orenda Blog Tour - Betrayal

 

TITLE: Betrayal

AUTHOR: Lilja Sigurdardottir

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: October 1, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Burned out and traumatised by her horrifying experiences around the world, aid worker Úrsula has returned to Iceland. Unable to settle, she accepts a high-profile government role in which she hopes to make a difference again. But on her first day in the post, Úrsula promises to help a mother seeking justice for her daughter, who had been raped by a policeman, and life in high office soon becomes much more harrowing than Úrsula could ever have imagined. A homeless man is stalking her – but is he hounding her, or warning her of some danger? And why has the death of her father in police custody so many years earlier reared its head again? As Úrsula is drawn into dirty politics, facing increasingly deadly threats, the lives of her stalker, her bodyguard and even a witch-like cleaning lady intertwine. Small betrayals become large ones, and the stakes are raised ever higher… 

Exploring the harsh worlds of politics, police corruption and misogyny, Betrayal is a relevant, powerful, fast-paced thriller that feels just a little bit too real… 

MY THOUGHTS: First look at that cover.  Doesn't it just give you chills?  The colder months are rapidly approaching in my neck of the woods making me even more drawn toward chilling, thrilling reads.  And a book set in Iceland fits the bill.

Ursula has recently returned home to Iceland and accepts a government position.  She is trying to help a woman get justice for her daughter, who had been raped by a policeman, but she soon learns she may be in over her head.  Ursula has a troubled past with law enforcement herself as her father died while in police custody many years ago.  The two cases are driving her to figure out what is really happening and with some help, sometimes in mysterious places, she may get to the bottom of things. 

While I'm not one who is usually interested in political books, the fact that this one centered around possible police corruption, albeit in another country, still struck home.  And Betrayal ended up being a very intriguing read.  I immediately liked Ursula and was very invested in her tale.  I wanted to see her succeed.  I also enjoyed some of the secondary characters and while Stella, the cleaning lady, seems an odd addition, I found her very interesting.  

Betrayal is a deep look into government roles and how dark and seedy things can get at times. Ursula is a great female protagonist and it's nice to see her in a position of power, even if it does seem like it's more than she bargained for at times.  This novel contains short chapters which I believe added to the quick pace of the plot.  If you are looking for a fascinating looking at politics in a foreign country, then give this stand-alone novel a try.

RATING: 4 Paws

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurdardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written four crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavik Noir trilogy, which have hit bestseller lists worldwide. The film rights have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner. 

Orenda Book Tour - A Song of Isolation

 

TITLE: A Song of Isolation

AUTHOR: Michael J. Malone

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: September 17, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Film star Amelie Hart is the darling of the silver screen, appearing on the front pages of every newspaper. But at the peak of her fame she throws it all away for a regular guy with an ordinary job. The gossip columns are aghast: what happened to the woman who turned heads wherever she went? 

Any hope the furore will die down are crushed when Amelie’s boyfriend Dave is arrested on charges of child sexual abuse. Dave strongly asserts his innocence, and when Amelie refuses to denounce him, the press furore quickly turns into physical violence, and she has to flee the country. 

While Dave is locked up with the most depraved men in the country and Amelie is hiding on the continent, Damaris, the victim at the centre of the story, is also isolated – a child trying to make sense of an adult world… 

MY THOUGHTS: A Song of Isolation is a hard hitting novel with child sexual assault at its center.  So if this is a trigger for you, you might want to pass, but honestly, Malone does a wonderful job at addressing such a heavy topic and despite the subject matter, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  Malone divides the novel into three POVs - Amelie, a once famous who is supporting her boyfriend despite such horrific allegation, Dave, the accused, who is now locked up and Demaris, the child victim.  I always enjoy multiple POVs in a book so I was thrilled to see this technique used to show the reader what each major character was experiencing.  What's even better is that we get to see Demaris grow from a young girl to a teen and see how such trauma plays into the woman she is about to become.

A Song of Isolation kept me guessing because it isn't immediately clear if Dave is actually the monster people believe.  I also really liked Amelie and it was interesting to see how she stood by Dave despite the allegations.  Having worked with child abuse allegations in the past, and with my husband currently a counseling in a local prison, I was able to easily connect with subject matter and how each character was being impacted.  Malone also did an impeccable job delving into the relationship between Dave and his cellmate Angus. 

If you are looking for an intense mystery with well developed characters and a carefully thought out plot, then look no further.  I will definitely keep my eyes open for more Malone novels in the future!

RATING: 4 paws

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. His psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and the critically acclaimed House of Spines, After He Died and In the Absence of Miracles soon followed suit. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr.

The Seven Doors Blog Tour

 

TITLE: The Seven Doors

AUTHOR: Agnes Ravatn

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: September 17, 2020

SYNOPSIS: University professor Nina is at a turning point. Her work seems increasingly irrelevant, her doctor husband is never home, relations with her adult daughter Ingeborg are strained, and their beautiful house is scheduled for demolition. 

When Ingeborg decides to move into another house they own, things take a very dark turn. The young woman who rents it disappears, leaving behind her son, the day after Nina and Ingeborg pay her a visit. 

With few clues, the police enquiry soon grinds to a halt, but Nina has an inexplicable sense of guilt. Unable to rest, she begins her own investigation, but as she pulls on the threads of the case, it seems her discoveries may have very grave consequences for her and her family

MY THOUGHTS:  As the book begins, the reader is introduced to Nina and her husband Mads are having to move because their current home is set to be demolished due to a new rail being built.  They own another home which is being rented by another woman and her son and the day after visiting them to inquire about the residence, the resident, Mari, disappears, leaving her child behind.  What unravels is a tale which finds Nina concerned so she takes it upon herself to find out what happened to Mari.

This was a great read and it kept me captivated to the end.  While I felt Ingeborg a tad jolting, I really liked Nina and enjoyed seeing her navigate her way through figuring out Mari's disappearance.  Many of the characters in the novel are quite flawed which makes the story much more intense and believable and I will warn you, you will be introduced to some characters you may not like - I know I felt that way.  This also isn't a very action packed book but instead relies heavily on atmosphere and details so if that is something that interests you, then definitely check it out.

RATING: 3 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Agnes Ravatn (b. 1983) is a Norwegian author and columnist. She made her literary début with the novel Week 53 (Veke 53) in 2007. Since then she has written three critically acclaimed and award-winning essay collections: Standing still (Stillstand), 2011, Popular Reading (Folkelesnad), 2011, and Operation self-discipline (Operasjon sjøldisiplin), 2014. In these works, Ravatn revealed a unique, witty voice and sharp eye for human fallibility. Her second novel, The Bird Tribunal (Fugletribuanlet), was an international bestseller translated into fifteen languages, winning an English PEN Award, shortlisting for the Dublin Literary Award, a WHSmith Fresh Talent pick and a BBC Book at Bedtime. It was also made into a successful play, which premiered in Oslo in 2015. Agnes lives with her family in the Norwegian countryside.

Orenda Blog Tours - Hinton Hollow Death Trip

TITLE: Hinton Hollow Death Trip
AUTHOR: Will Carver
PUBLISHER: Orenda Books
PUBLISHING DATE: August 6, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

It’s a small story. A small town with small lives that you would never have heard about if none of this had happened.

Hinton Hollow. Population: 5,120. 

Little Henry Wallace was eight years old and one hundred miles from home before anyone talked to him. His mother placed him on a train with a label around his neck, asking for him to be kept safe for a week, kept away from Hinton Hollow. 

Because something was coming. Narrated by Evil itself, Hinton Hollow Death Trip recounts five days in the history of this small rural town, when darkness paid a visit and infected its residents. A visit that made them act in unnatural ways. Prodding at their insecurities. Nudging at their secrets and desires. Coaxing out the malevolence suppressed within them. Showing their true selves. 

Making them cheat.
Making them steal. 
Making them kill. 

Detective Sergeant Pace had returned to his childhood home. To escape the things he had done in the city. To go back to something simple. But he was not alone. Evil had a plan.  

MY THOUGHTS: So if you don't know how much I tend to love books by published by Orenda Books, then you apparently haven't read my reviews.  For the past year or so, some of my favorite and most memorable reads have come from Orenda.  Well, this book pretty much solidifies it and given the time and the opportunity, I'm pretty sure I'd read anything they toss my way.

Hinton Hollow Death Trip is the third book in the Sergeant Pace series.  Have I read the first two? No.  Did I feel I missed out on something? Not really but let me clarify.  I clearly don't think I would have enjoyed the book anymore than what I did, but I do think I would have known a tad bit more about Sergeant Pace which might have filled in some gaps.  And in a rarity, did I go and immediately order the first two books?  Yes, because I'm pretty sure Will Carver is on the way to be one of my favorite must-read authors.

When the book opens, we are introduced to a little boy who has been put on a train alone with a note around his neck.  He has been sent away by his mother and has been told to keep quiet about where he lives for seven days.  See, his mother knows something is on its way to Hinton Hollow and she wanted her son clear of the devastation. Evil has come to town.  And it systematically has a plan for destruction.  Slowly the reader is introduced to the townspeople.  Some are pure of heart. Some are good but Evil tells us good isn't good enough anymore.  And some are bordering on the brink of doing bad deeds and all they need is a little push in the right direction.  I held on to every word and every chapter not knowing where Carver was leading me or how it would end.  All I know is I loved some of these characters and some deserved their outcome.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't address the unique style of this book.  As mentioned, it is narrated by Evil.  And through the take, the reader gets a good hard look at humanity, ethical dilemmas, and individuals faced with choices.  Evil is such a unique character and dare I say isn't all bad.  And the atmosphere Carver creates along with an eeriness and feeling of dread is reminiscent of some of my favorite horror authors.  I could actually see this playing out as a movie the further I read.

So yep, Orenda Books does it again.  They've yet to fail me and this time they introduced me to an author and series I absolutely have to start from the beginning.  Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.  Oh and last but not least, don't let the pretty cover fool you.  There is very little pretty in this book and I for one loved it even more so because there wasn't!

RATING: 5 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Will Carver is the international bestselling author of the January David series. He spent his early years in Germany, but returned to the UK at age eleven, when his sporting career took off. He turned down a professional rugby contract to study theatre and television at King Alfred’s, Winchester, where he set up a successful theatre company. He currently runs his own fitness and nutrition company, and lives in Reading with his two children. Good Samaritans was book of the year in Guardian, Telegraph and Daily Express, and hit number one on the ebook charts.

Orenda Books Book Tour - The Waiting Rooms

TITLE: The Waiting Rooms
AUTHOR: Eve Smith
PUBLISHER: Orenda Books
PUBLISHING DATE: June 12, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Decades of spiralling drug resistance have unleashed a global antibiotic crisis. Ordinary infections are untreatable, and a scratch from a pet can kill. A sacrifice is required to keep the majority safe: no one over seventy is allowed new antibiotics. The elderly are sent to hospitals nicknamed ‘The Waiting Rooms’ … hospitals where no one ever gets well. 

Twenty years after the crisis takes hold, Kate begins a search for her birth mother, armed only with her name and her age. As Kate unearths disturbing facts about her mother’s past, she puts her family in danger and risks losing everything. Because Kate is not the only secret that her mother is hiding. Someone else is looking for her, too.

Sweeping from an all-too-real modern Britain to a pre-crisis South Africa, The Waiting Rooms is epic in scope, richly populated with unforgettable characters, and a tense, haunting vision of a future that is only a few mutations away.

MY THOUGHTS: Considering all that is going on in the world right now, it may not have been the best time to pick up this book.  However, Orenda Books hasn't disappointed me yet so I figured why not?  I'm glad I did because this thriller was a great way to immerse myself in other people's problems and ignore the reality of today - at least for a little while.

The book has multiple POVs  taking place in both Africa and Britain, with dual timelines.  Kate is a headstrong woman looking for her birth mother.  Lily is an elderly woman in a care faciity,  And finally, Mary is a scientist working in South Africa.  At the root of the tale is the premise that antibiotic resistance has finally become a reality and elderly individuals over the age of 70 are allowed new antibiotics in order to try to save the rest of the population.  Does this sound all too familiar?  Yes.  And have we been told for years that antibiotics are being over prescribed?  Yes again.

Smith has created an intense tale where people's rights, medical care and politics all play an important role.  I must admit that I always have a soft spot for the elderly and I found Lily to be a very endearing character.  Her life awaiting her 70th birthday and knowing what would then happen became on of my biggest concerns as I was reading.  I was also wanting the best for Kate and was terrified about where the search for her mother would finally lead her.

Overall, The Waiting Rooms is a great speculative, dystopian read which hits all too close to home here in 2020.  I am sure Smith did a vast amount of research to put this story together and in my opinion, her hard work paid off.  If reading something like this doesn't scare you, then you aren't paying attention!

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Eve Smith’s debut novel The Waiting Rooms was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and selected as a Book of the Month by Eric Brown at The Guardian just after launch. 

Eve writes speculative fiction, mainly about the things that scare her. She attributes her love of all things dark and dystopian to a childhood watching Tales of the Unexpected and black-and-white Edgar Allen Poe double bills. 

Eve’s flash fiction has been shortlisted for the Bath Flash Fiction Award and highly commended for The Brighton Prize. In this world of questionable facts, stats and news, she believes storytelling is more important than ever to engage people in real life issues.

Eve recently contributed a piece of flash fiction, Belting Up, to an anthology of crime shorts called Noir From the Bar. The collection of stories has been launched to raise money for the NHS.
Eve’s previous job as COO of an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. A Modern Languages graduate from Oxford, she returned to Oxfordshire fifteen years ago to set up home with her husband.

When she’s not writing, she’s racing across fields after her dog, attempting to organise herself and her family or off exploring somewhere new.

Follow Eve: @evecsmith on Twitter & www.evesmithauthor.com
Instagram: evesmithauthor
Facebook: EveSmithAuthor

Blood Red City Blog Tour

TITLE:  Blood Red City
AUTHOR: Rod Reynolds
PUBLISHER: Orenda Books
PUBLISHING DATE: June 11, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: A witness with no victim. A crime with no crime scene… 

When crusading journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video of an apparent murder on a London train, she thinks she's found the story to revive her career. But she can't find a victim, much less the killers, and the only witness has disappeared. Wary she's fallen for fake news, she begins to doubt her instincts – until a sinister call suggests that she's not the only one interested in the crime. 

Michael Stringer deals in information – and doesn't care which side of the law he finds himself on. But the murder on the train has left him exposed, and now he'll stop at nothing to discover what Lydia knows. 

When their paths collide, Lydia finds the story leads through a nightmare world, where money, power and politics intersect … and information is the only thing more dangerous than a bullet. 

A nerve-shattering and brutally realistic thriller, Blood Red City bursts with energy and grit from the opening page, twisting and feinting to a superb, unexpected ending that will leave you breathless. 

MY THOUGHTS: I've said several times that Orenda Books is one of my favorite thriller publishers and once again, they have failed to disappoint with Blood Red City.  The story takes place in the midst of a summer heatwave making it a near-perfect summer read.

Blood Red City featured Lydia, a crusading journalist always searching for the truth and Stringer, a "fixer" of all things dark and seedy.  Lydia is sent a video of a murder but she is unable to find evidence the crime occurred at all.  She's on a mission to determine if it was "fake news."  On the other hand, Stringer is looking at the situation from the opposite side of the law and he is having difficulty doing his job as well. The two team up to figure out what is going on - well, as good as two people from different sides of the law can.

I really enjoyed Lydia and quite liked the dynamic between her and Stringer.  I do tend to love a seedier noir tale from time to time and this book fit the bill.  It's quite evident that the author is writing about a town he knows and loves and London does tens to strike me as a character of its own.

If you liked action-packed books that keep you on the edge of your seat, then check this one out.  I will definitely be reading more from Reynolds in the future.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rod Reynolds is the author of four novels, including the Charlie Yates series.  A lifelong Londoner, in 2020 Orenda Books will publish the first book set in his hometown, Blood Red City.  Rod previously worked in advertising as a media buyer and holds a MA in novel writing.  Rod lives with his wife and family and spends most of his time trying to keep up with his two daughters.

#Blog Tour - I Am Dust

TITLE: I Am Dust
AUTHOR: Louise Beech
PUBLISHER: Orenda Books
PUBLISHING DATE: April 16, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

The Dean Wilson Theatre is believed to be haunted by a long-dead actress, singing her last song, waiting for her final cue, looking for her killer… 

Now Dust, the iconic musical, is returning after twenty years. But who will be brave enough to take on the role of ghostly goddess Esme Black, last played by Morgan Miller, who was murdered in her dressing room? 

Theatre usher Chloe Dee is caught up in the spectacle. As the new actors arrive, including an unexpected face from her past, everything changes. Are the eerie sounds and sightings backstage real or just her imagination? Is someone playing games? 

Is the role of Esme Black cursed? Could witchcraft be at the heart of the tragedy? And are dark deeds from Chloe’s past about to catch up with her? 

Not all the drama takes place onstage. Sometimes murder, magic, obsession and the biggest of betrayals are real life. When you’re in the theatre shadows, you see everything. And 

Chloe has been watching…

MY THOUGHTS: So pretty much all I have to do is see "thriller from Orenda Books" on an email and I'm sunk.  I've had such great luck with the books I've read for their blog tours and I am thrilled to say I Am Dust is no exception.

Dust was the first show for the Dean Wilson Theatre.  And it definitely put the theatre on the map because the lead actress, Morgan Miller, was murdered during its run.  Miller's murder was never solved and such a tragedy left a haunted imprint on the venue.  Now, twenty years since the original run, Dust is being revived. Many believe this is a bad decision as they think the musical is cursed.  Add is a ghost, some ominous sounds and a eerie backdrop and this book has all the makings of a good thriller. 

The tale is told in dual timelines which is a writing technique I almost always enjoy.  The reader gets a glimpse of what happened in the past and how those incidents are shaping present day activities.  I also found it to be a highly atmospheric read.  I really felt a connection to Chloe, the MC, and truly felt her sadness.  And it's an automatic given that a night filled with best friends and a Ouija board are bound to come back to haunt Chloe years later.

I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole novel.  Because of the spooky atmosphere, reading it was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, especially if they have an extra interest in musicals and theatres since I found all the glamour surrounding the production very interesting.

Orenda Books, you've done it again!

RATING: 5 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Louise Beech is an exceptional literary talent, whose debut novel How To Be Brave was a Guardian Readers’ Choice for 2015. Her second book, The Mountain in My Shoe was shortlisted for Not the Booker Prize. Both of her previous books Maria in the Moon and The Lion Tamer Who Lost were widely reviewed, critically acclaimed and number-one bestsellers on Kindle. The Lion Tamer Who Lost was shortlisted for the RNA Most Popular Romantic Novel Award in 2019. Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice. Louise lives with her husband on the outskirts of Hull, and loves her job as a Front of House Usher at Hull Truck Theatre, where her first play was performed in 2012.

Mexico Street Blog Tour

Today I'm thrilled to share my blog tour spot of another great Orenda Books publication!

TITLE: Mexico Street (Chaz Riley #8)

AUTHOR: Simone Buchholz

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: March 5, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Hamburg state prosecutor Chastity Riley investigates a series of arson attacks on cars across the city, which leads her to a startling and life-threatening discovery involving criminal gangs and a very illicit love story… 

Night after night, cars are set alight across the German city of Hamburg, with no obvious pattern, no explanation and no suspect. Until, one night, on Mexico Street, a ghetto of high-rise blocks in the north of the city, a Fiat is torched. Only this car isn’t empty. The body of Nouri Saroukhan – prodigal son of the Bremen clan – is soon discovered, and the case becomes a homicide. 

Public prosecutor Chastity Riley is handed the investigation, which takes her deep into a criminal underground that snakes beneath the whole of Germany. And as details of Nouri’s background, including an illicit relationship with the mysterious Aliza, emerge, it becomes clear that these are not random attacks, and there are more on the cards… 

MY THOUGHTS: I have really enjoyed the recent titles I've read from Orenda Books but the problem I seem to have is that they have me wanting to go back and start several series from the beginning.  Such is the case with the Chaz Riley series.

This novel finds Chaz Riley, a public prosecutor in Germany, investigating the suspicious death of an important son of the Bremen clan.  As she investigates, she finds herself falling deeper and deeper into a criminal underground and she soon discovers the violence will not end with Nouri's death. 

I loved Chaz as a character. She is kind of a take-no-prisoners person who shoots straight from the hip.  She is strong and resilient and isn't afraid of being too much like one of the guys.  She is diligent in her investigations and I was totally enthralled with the novel and what would happen next.  I also really liked Chaz's interaction with her partner, Detective Stepanovic.  They clearly have honed their skills together over the years and it shows.

There was a very suspenseful and intriguing mystery at the root of Mexico Street and I'm excited to go back and meet Chaz from the beginning.  This book has it all - darkness, sarcasm, wit and humor.  There is also a touch of love woven into the tale of Nouri's death.  It was interesting to read a mystery set in Germany because I can't recall the last time I read something set in that country.  Orenda Books is really getting me to branch out with some locales and I'm loving every minute of it!

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Simone Buchholz was born in Hanau in 1972. At university, she studied Philosophy and Literature, worked as a waitress and a columnist, and trained to be a journalist at the prestigious Henri-Nannen-School in Hamburg. In 2016, Simone Buchholz was awarded the Crime Cologne Award as well as runner-up in the German Crime Fiction Prize for Blue Night, which was number one on the KrimiZEIT Best of Crime List for months. She
lives in Sankt Pauli, in the heart of Hamburg, with her husband and son.

Orenda Books Blog Tour - Containment

TITLE: Containment (Sam Shephard #3)
AUTHOR: Vanda Symon
PUBLISHER: Orenda Books
PUBLISHING DATE: January 5, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Dunedin’s favourite young police officer Sam Shephard is drawn into a perplexing investigation when a series of shipping containers wash up on a sleepy New Zealand beach, and a spate of unexplained deaths ensues… 

Chaos reigns in the sleepy village of Aramoana on the New Zealand coast, when a series of shipping containers wash up on the beach and looting begins. 

Detective Constable Sam Shephard experiences the desperation of the scavengers first-hand, and ends up in an ambulance, nursing her wounds and puzzling over an assault that left her assailant for dead. 

What appears to be a clear-cut case of a cargo ship running aground soon takes a more sinister turn when a skull is found in the sand, and the body of a diver is pulled from the sea … a diver who didn’t die of drowning… 

As first officer at the scene, Sam is handed the case, much to the displeasure of her superiors, and she must put together an increasingly confusing series of clues to get to the bottom of a mystery that may still have more victims… 

MY THOUGHTS: When I agreed to be a part of the Containment blog tour, I had no idea it was the third book in a series.  I'm pretty anal about reading books in order but I'm thrilled to say reading this our of order worked out perfectly fine for me and has actually prompted me to go back and look up the first two.

Detective Constable Sam Shephard is dog sitting for a family friend when a large shipping boat wrecks along the shoreline of Anamoana, off of New Zealand, spilling shipping containers along the beach.  People rush to the chaotic scene - some to see what has happened, some to help contain the scene and some to loot the containers.  Sam ends up at the scene trying to help but ends up getting assaulted instead.  Let's just say a lot of people on the scene end up with more than they've bargained for.  Soon a body is found in the sea and the case only ends up uncovering more disturbing facts about the case.

I really feel in love with Sam.  She is not the most favorite detective on the squad as some are skeptical about how she rose within the ranks so quickly.  Luckily she is teamed with a great partner and they form a bond which is rather familial. There is also a great supporting case built around Sam with her roommate and her boyfriend Paul.  Sam is independent but realizes she's a bit of a "saver" which comes back to bite her when dealing with the current case.  Sam also meets a wonderful yet annoying college student, Spaz, who is an integral part in the current case and he added a nice comedic relief to a rather intense case.  I also love that same reviews to her boss as Dick Head, which honestly, describes him quite succinctly. 

I flew through Containment and couldn't wait to see how everything linked together.  I will admit that at times, things seemed to be falling too conveniently into place, but that was really my only issue with the book. I'm definitely going to be looking into the first two book in this series as I'm curious about what I might have missed about Sam's background.  That being said, I was able to jump right into this book and it flowed extremely well, given that it's part of a series.  If you enjoy great characters and a good police procedural, then you'll want to give Containment a go.

RATING: 4 Paws

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Vanda Symon is a crime writer, TV presenter and radio host from Dunedin, New Zealand, and the chair of the Otago Southland branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors. The Sam Shephard series has
climbed to number one on the New Zealand bestseller list, and also been
shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for best crime novel. She currently
lives in Dunedin, with her husband and two sons.

Blog Tour - Death Deserved

Today I'm thrilled to be sharing with you my thoughts on Death Deserved.  Read on to see what I thought of another great Orenda Books publication.

TITLE: Death Deserved

AUTHORS: Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: January 31, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: Police officer Alexander Blix and celebrity blogger Emma Ramm join forces to track down a serial killer with a thirst for attention and high-profile murders, in the first episode of a gripping new Nordic Noir series… 

Oslo, 2018. Former long-distance runner Sonja Nordstrøm never shows at the launch of her controversial autobiography, Always Number One. When celebrity blogger Emma Ramm visits Nordstrøm’s home later that day, she finds the door unlocked and signs of a struggle inside. A bib with the number ‘one’ has been pinned to the TV. 

Police officer Alexander Blix is appointed to head up the missing-persons investigation, but he still bears the emotional scars of a hostage situation nineteen years earlier, when he killed the father of a five-year-old girl. Traces of Nordstrøm soon show up at different locations, but the appearance of the clues appear to be carefully calculated … evidence of a bigger picture that he’s just not seeing… 

Blix and Ramm soon join forces, determined to find and stop a merciless killer with a flare for the dramatic, and thirst for attention. Trouble is, he’s just got his first taste of it… 

MY THOUGHTS: Last year I discovered that I really enjoyed foreign thrillers so naturally I jumped at the chance to start something new and share that new find with others.  Death Deserved is the start of a new series and I now that I've read it, I'm anxiously awaiting the next one.

In this installment, the unlikely pair of Emma Ramm, celebrity blogger, and Alex Blix, police officer, team up to figure out what happened to a famous long-distance runner.  Ramm discovered her guest missing when she showed up at her house which put her right in the middle of the investigation.

I can honestly admit that serial killers have always interested me. I'm intrigued by how they function and what makes them tick.  Add that in with celebrity deaths and a blogger and I knew the likelihood was good that I would enjoy this novel.  I'm also always intrigued to see two authors working together and their styles really meshed on this police procedural.  I was really engaged with the characters and because they are working against time to find the killer, the book was extremely fast-paced.

I have had such great success reading Orenda  Books publications and after reading Violet last year, and Death Deserved at the beginning of 2020, they are definitely becoming a published to watch.  If you are ready to strap yourself in for one hell of a rider, then pick up Death Deserved.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger are the internationally bestselling Norwegian authors of the William Wisting and Henning Juul series respectively. Jørn Lier Horst first rose to literary fame with his No. 1 internationally bestselling William Wisting series. A former investigator in the Norwegian
police, Horst imbues all his works with an unparalleled realism and suspense.

Thomas Enger is the journalist-turned-author behind the internationally acclaimed and bestselling Henning Juul
series. Enger’s trademark has become a darkly gritty voice paired with key social messages and tight plotting. Besides writing fiction for both adults and young adults, Enger also works as a music composer.

Death Deserved is Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger’s first co-written thriller.