The Ice Angels by Caroline Mitchell #VirtualBookTour #TheIceAngels @Caroline_writes @PenguinUKBooks @RandomTTours @carolinemitchell.bsky.social #BookReview #Lincoln #CrimeFiction

 

Ten years ago, in the depths of the Finnish winter, Detective Elea Baker’s daughter was taken—and never found.

Now, in the quiet streets of Lincoln, girls are disappearing again. When one is found on the cathedral steps, clutching a chilling clue linked to the decade-old abduction, there’s only one person who can solve the case: Elea.

Dragged back into her nightmare, she’s determined to bring her daughter home this time—no matter the cost.

But is she chasing a ghost, or on the verge of uncovering a truth that will shatter everything?

The Ice Angels by Caroline Mitchell is published on 15 January 2026 by Penguin and is the first in the Elea Baker series. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy as part of this #RandomThingsTours Virtual Book Tour. 

I absolutely love to read books that are set in places that are familiar to me. I've lived around twenty minutes away from Lincoln for my entire life and was really excited to discover that Caroline Mitchell's new crime series was set there.  It really adds a depth when you recognise the settings, being able to actually picture the place as you read. Don't worry if you've never been to Lincoln though, I can promise you that it's a great read and the author conjures up the places so well. 

There’s something immediately arresting about The Ice Angels, and it is not just the biting cold that seeps from the page. From the opening chapters, this is a story that looks at  grief, loss and the kind of emotional scars that never quite heal.

Ten years ago, Detective Elea Baker’s daughter vanished in Finland. Now, in Lincoln, Elea has been called by her former partner Swann to help with an investigation as history appears to be repeating itself. Girls are disappearing, and when one is discovered on the cathedral steps with a chilling link to the past, Elea is forced to confront the nightmare that has been her life for years. 

This is a dark, atmospheric thriller, beautifully layered with emotional depth. The author excels at characterisation, Elea is flawed, raw and utterly believable, driven as much by guilt and grief as by justice. Her pain feels real.

The Finnish scenes are particularly striking. The cold is almost a character in its own right, creeping under your skin and tightening the tension with every page. I could practically feel the frost forming as the narrative moves between past and present, slowly knitting together the mystery.

The pacing does occasionally ease, and this allows the emotional threads to sink in. However, the story never loses its grip. There are twists, dark turns and moments that really unsettled me, with a strong sense of place and a feeling of dread that keeps you reading 'just one more chapter'. 

The Ice Angels is an impressive start to a new series. Chilling, emotional and thoughtfully constructed, it is both a gripping mystery and a haunting exploration of a mother’s love. Dark crime readers are in very safe hands here, and I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next.

Caroline Mitchell is a New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and international
#No. 1 bestselling author who has sold over 2 million books . She originates from Ireland and now lives in a woodland village outside the city of Lincoln. A former police detective, she has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. She now writes full time.

Her books have won first place as ‘Best Psychological Thriller’ in the US Reader’s’ Favourite Award Contest, been shortlisted for the International Thriller Writer Awards in New York and been shortlisted for ‘Best Procedural’ in the Killer Nashville awards and the Audie awards. Her crime thriller, Truth And Lies is a No.1 New York Times bestseller and has been optioned for TV.

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The Barbecue at No 9 by Jennie Godfrey #TheBarbecueatNo9 @jenniegauthor.bsky.social @HutchHeinemann @PenguinUKBooks @charlottebush2 #BookReview

 

FROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS . . .

It's the summer of 1985 and the residents of Delmont Close are preparing a neighbourhood barbecue to watch the biggest music event in history: Live Aid. A day like no other that will end having reached millions and changing the lives of all who attend.

House-proud Lydia Gordon, whose idols are Princess Di and Delia Smith, is determined to put on a show that will impress everyone - with her posh garden and state-of-the-art television, and her sweet husband and two children, Hanna and David.

But as the guests flood into number nine, so do all of the secrets that have been kept in the close.

Rita, a new neighbour from Australia, is hoping for a fresh start but harbours a shocking event in her past; Steve, a young Falklands veteran, battles his own demons; and Mr Wilson is surely too good-looking to ever be trusted.

But as the hours count down to the last performance of the night, it's Lydia who faces the heart-breaking truth that her immaculate home and flawless family might not be so perfect after all.

And if each of their neighbours is guilty of hiding something, so are the Gordons at number nine ...

The Barbecue at No. 9 by Jennie Godfrey is published on 12 February 2026 by Hutchinson Heinemann/ Penguin. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

I was lucky enough to read a very early copy of Jennie Godfrey's debut novel; The List of Suspicious Things and reviewed it on Random Things in December 2023.  I predicted then that the book would be a massive success and I'm delighted to have been proved correct, winning awards and becoming a best seller, it has been huge. 

The 'difficult second novel' is a well known thing, and I sometimes think that it can be as worrisome for readers as well as authors!  We've loved the first book and expectations are high for book two. 

There is no need to worry!  The Barbecue at No. 9 is absolutely wonderful, and dare I say it?  It is, in my view, even better than its predecessor.

This time the story is set in the 1980s, it is the day of the Live Aid concert. A blistering hot summer day in 1985, and the whole world seemed to be waiting for the big event. A fund raising concert taking place in both London and in the USA. I was almost nineteen-years-old at the time and I remember that day so well. The anticipation of watching your favourite bands, being allowed to have music on the TV,  all day long, it was like a hugely extended version of Top of the Pops.  What a day! 

The residents of Delmont Close are all invited to a barbecue at Number 9; the home of the Gordons. House proud Lydia, her quiet husband Peter, and their two children Hanna and David - along with the dog Prince. 

This is the story of one day in the lives of an eclectic group of people who are only connected because they happen to live on the same street. Each and every one of them is a wonderful, carefully created character with their own voice. The author tells her story through alternating chapters, narrated by each characters. This is a fabulous way of story-telling, allowing the reader to know far more about the residents than they know about each other. 

As with her first novel, the author deals with some delicate and emotionally challenging subjects, but the subtle hints of humour and the overwhelming feeling of warmth make these so easy to digest. They are dealt with empathically and with a sensitivity that we've come to expect from Jennie Godfrey. 

Packed full of secrets, with some suspense and hints of danger along with way, this is a novel that totally took my heart. It is a really beautiful story of family, community, friendship and love. Highly recommended. 

Jennie Godfrey was raised in West Yorkshire in a mill-working family and her debut
novel, The List of Suspicious Things, was inspired by her childhood there in the 1970s. 

In 2020, Jennie gave up her corporate career to build a life around books. 

She is now a writer and part-time bookseller who lives, and writes, in the Somerset countryside

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The Cut Throat Trial by The Secret Barrister #TheCutThroatTrial @BarristerSecret @picadorbooks @barristersecret.bsky.social #BookReview

 

It is one of the biggest trials of the year. Three seventeen-year-old boys are accused of the brutal murder of an elderly teacher on New Year's Eve.

Each boy denies it.
Each points the finger at the other two.
But they can’t all be innocent.

The three defence barristers have only one job: to persuade the jury that their client is not guilty. But they’re up against a prosecutor who needs to win the case, no matter the cost.

Written with an expert insider’s knowledge, in The Cut Throat Trial a dramatic courtroom drama unfolds.

And you have a front row seat.

The Cut Throat Trial by The Secret Barrister, writing as S J Fleet was published on 28 August by Picador. I bought my copy at the airport when I flew out to Corfu in September. 

There’s something deliciously compulsive about a courtroom drama done well, and The Cut Throat Trial from The Secret Barrister absolutely had me hooked from the opening pages.

With three seventeen-year-old boys accused of the brutal murder of a retired teacher, the novel drops us straight into moral murkiness and never really lets us get comfortable. Each boy denies the charge, they all point the finger elsewhere, and the reader is  left constantly questioning not only who did it, but how justice can possibly emerge from such a tangle of mixed up stories. 

We get to hear from two of the accused in the dock, and are privy to all of their innermost thoughts too. We also listen the judge hearing the case and the barristers doing their utmost to defend their clients. There are flashbacks to the event and we hear witness accounts too. 

What really elevates this book is the insider knowledge. The legal system is laid bare in a way that feels authentic, sharp, and occasionally chilling. The defence barristers aren’t there to find the truth, they’re there to win for their clients, and the their determination to win, whatever the cost mentality adds a real edge. It’s tense, claustrophobic, and often unsettling, with moments that made me pause and reflect on how fragile the idea of 'justice' can be. 

Whilst the plotting is clever and the courtroom scenes are gripping, there were moments where the pacing dipped slightly for me, and I found some characters more fully rounded than others. Still, this is a thoughtful, gripping legal thriller that entertains while also asking some uncomfortable questions. If you enjoy intelligent crime fiction with substance and a strong sense of place, I recommend this, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what The Secret Barrister does next.

The bestselling author, The Secret Barrister, writes fiction as S. J. Fleet. 

A junior barrister specialising in criminal law, they write for many publications and are the author of the award-winning The Secret Barrister blog. 

Their first book, The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken, was a Sunday Times number-one bestseller and spent more than a year in the top-ten bestseller list; it won the Books Are My Bag Non-Fiction Award and was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year and the Specsavers Non-Fiction Book of the Year. 

Fake Law: The Truth About Justice in an Age of Lies and Nothing But the Truth: The Memoir of an Unlikely Lawyer were instant Sunday Times top-ten bestsellers on publication. 

The Cut Throat Trial is their first novel.

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Five By Five by Claire Wilson #FiveByFive @ByClaireWilson @MichaelJBooks @PenguinUKBooks #ScottishCrimeFiction @byclairewilson.bsky.social #BookReview

 

Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime.

That’s where Kennedy Allardyce comes in – monitoring not just the prisoners, but also the staff.

And she’s just stumbled across her most dangerous foe yet – rumours of a corrupt guard with lethal influence. And what’s worst, it seems they’ve already realised Kennedy is on their tail.

At least one thing is giving her joy – a blossoming relationship with Molly, a beautiful, enigmatic new guard.

Wouldn’t it be awful if the killer she’s hunting turned out to be the woman she’s falling for?

Five By Five by Claire Wilson was published on 14 August 2025 by Michael Joseph / Penguin. I was thrilled to meet the author at a crime fiction event in Scotland last year, where she kindly signed a copy for me. 

Claire Wilson works as an Intelligence Analyst within the Scottish prison system. She pitched her debut novel at the Pitch Perfect event during the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in 2022, and in 2023 she went on to win the Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers Prize. Five by Five was published by Penguin Michael Joseph in 2024.

Five by Five is a fast-paced, gripping thriller set deep inside the Scottish prison system. I was particularly appreciative of the glossary of Scottish prison terminology included at the beginning of the book. These terms add authenticity and depth to the story while also teaching the reader a thing or two, whether we’ll ever need to know them in real life is another matter entirely!

The lead character, Kennedy Allardyce, is a brilliantly crafted protagonist. Flawed and vulnerable at times, she is nonetheless fiercely dedicated to her work as an intelligence analyst and determined not to let the prisoners run the prison. Kennedy is essentially a spy: listening in on prisoners’ phone calls, decoding their coded language, and trying to prevent trouble before it erupts.

Drugs are circulating inside the prison, and Kennedy knows the supplier goes by the name Scout. After a violent incident leaves her both physically and psychologically scarred, she comes to a chilling realisation; Scout is an insider, a fellow officer.

Struggling to trust anyone, Kennedy grows close to officer Molly Rana. There is undeniable attraction between them, but the question lingers: is Kennedy opening herself up to something genuine, or walking straight into a trap? Only time will tell.

Claustrophobic, dark, and brimming with tension, this is the kind of novel that has you holding your breath for pages at a time. A triumph of sharp writing and clever plotting, Five by Five is a compelling, masterfully executed thriller that I highly recommend. Bring on book two!

Claire Wilson is from central Scotland. 

Her debut novel Five by Five was the inaugural winner of the Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers' Prize. 

The book is based on her day job as an Intelligence Analyst in a Scottish Prison and has gone on to be shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, the CrimeFest Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award, Capital Crime's Debut Award and longlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger.

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Black Water Rising by Sean Watkin #BlackWaterRising @seanwatkinauth @seanwatkinauthor @canelo_co #BookReview #DCIDeSilva #CrimeThriller

 

Teenage girls are going missing across Liverpool. When the body of the third victim is discovered on the banks of the Mersey, the search for the culprit intensifies, and DCI de Silva is called back to work.

Still reeling from the recent suicide of her husband and dragged down by the undertow of PTSD, de Silva has been struggling in self-imposed exile. In her fragile state, is she ready to win in a race against the clock?

This case should have been DS Barclay's opportunity to finally show himself to be more than what everybody assumes an exercise in diversity, a gay man employed to tick boxes.

De Silva and Barclay must exorcise their own demons to stop more victims suffering, all while dealing with a traumatised and escalating killer, who is hellbent on finding somebody from their past.

Black Water Rising by Sean Watkin was published on 10 April 2025 by Canelo Crime. 

Earlier this month, I attended the Newcastle Noir Crime Fiction Festival, it's one of my favourite festivals of the year, and we always make sure that we have tickets. One of my favourite panels during the two days that we were there was Trevor Wood, Daniel Aubrey and Sean Watkins, moderated by Michael Wood. It was fascinating and at times hilarious. I have already read, or own books by all of the authors except for Sean Watkins, so I happily bought a copy of Black Water Rising and had it signed by the man himself. 

Well, what to say? What indeed?  I've had a difficult reading year in 2025, ill health and various life events have really challenged my ability to concentrate, for the first time in my life. I think Sean Watkin has cured me. This is a precise and thrilling police procedural with a difference. His Liverpool setting takes the reader right into the heart of that wonderful city; and whilst the plot is tense and often dark and chilling, it is the incredible character creation that really won me over. 

In DCI Winifred de Silva and DS Ben Barclay are a pair of colleagues whose relationship has been shattered by the past. De Silva is still traumatised by her husband's recent suicide, and will be for a long time, she cannot shake the memory of finding him, ever. Barclay is distressed by how de Silva has treated him since this happened. He thought they were friends.  He also struggles with the thoughts taht he only has a job because, being gay, he ticked the boxes. His esteem is pretty low. He doesn't realise the levels of de Silva's feelings of guilt and when she is brought in from sick leave to work with him on the investigation that has rocked the city, he's wary. 

Teenage girls are going missing in Liverpool.  When the latest body is found by the Mersey, the team know that they have to find this killer. De Silva and Barclay really have to bury their demons, at least for a while, in order to ensure that no other girl dies. 

Sean Watkin not only allows his readers into the minds of the investigating officers, we are also privy to the workings of the murderer's brain, how he works, what he does. This is NOT COSY CRIME! It is dark, violent, chilling and deals with the effects of horrific historical abuse and also how this is played out and hurts others. 

I am impressed. I am impressed by the detailed storyline, by the sympathetic handling of the detective's own issues and the deep look into how the brain can be altered by what is done to the person. It's clever, dramatic, traumatic and tense. Written with authority and knowledge, I am eager to read book two in the series. Highly recommended. 

Sean Watkin was born and raised in Liverpool and studied a BA and MA in Creative
Writing at Liverpool John Moores University. 

He has been shortlisted for Fresher Writing Award, Book a Break Prize, Bristol Short Story Prize and the McDermid Debut Award. 

His writing has been featured in The Gay UK magazine, and The Content Wolf e-zine, as well as other LGBT+ publications. 

Sean lives in Liverpool with his partner and two dogs.

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Blackwater by Sarah Sultoon BLOG TOUR #Blackwater @SultoonSarah @OrendaBooks @orendabooks.bsky.social #BookReview

 

They feared the machines. 

They should have feared the people…

London, Christmas 1999. The world is on edge. With the new millennium just days away, fears of the Millennium Bug are spiralling – warnings of computer failures, market crashes, even global catastrophe. But fifty miles east, on the frozen Blackwater Island, a different kind of mystery unfolds. A child’s body is discovered on the bracken, untouched by footprints, with no sign of how he died. And no one has come forward to claim him.

At the International Tribune, reporter Jonny Murphy senses something is off. Police are appealing for relatives, not suspects. An anonymous call led officers to the scene, but no one knows who made it. While the world fixates on a digital apocalypse, Jonny sees the real disaster unfolding closer to home. With just twenty-hour hours before the century turns, he heads to Blackwater – driven by curiosity, desperation, and the sting of rejection from his colleague Paloma.

But Blackwater has secrets buried deep in the frozen ground. More victims – some dead, others still paying for past sins. And when Paloma catches up to him, they stumble onto something far bigger than either of them imagined. Something that could change everything. The millennium is coming. The clock is ticking. Can Jonny stop it? Should he?

And what if Y2K wasn’t a hoax, but a warning…?

Blackwater by Sarah Sultoon was published on 4 December 2025 by Orenda Books. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this blog tour. 

Blackwater is the third book from Sarah Sultoon featuring journalist reporter Jonny Murphy. This author draws on her own extensive personal experience of reporting from conflict zones whilst working on the frontline in Syria, Afghanistan and others. Her writing is slick and combines unflinching realism with pace and tension. 

London, December 1999 and the world is on edge, fearing the ‘Millennium Bug’. However when a small child’s body is discovered some miles from London on Blackwater Island, Jonny Murphy knows that there is something far deeper to this tragedy. Accompanied by his colleague Paloma, they embark on a dangerous mission, determined to unravel buried secrets. 

The author contrasts the looming global dread with the hidden local horror and the tension as the countdown to midnight ticks by only increases the dread.  The novel is perfectly paced and the cold, unsettling landscape of the bleak island adds such depth to the story. 

Jonny is a flawed, haunted but compelling lead character and Paloma supports him perfectly, with her own demons to deal with. Sultoon treats her readers to snippets of personal history that make the characters appear more realistic, easy to relate and totally human. 

Blackwater is a thrilling, chilling read. Readers who love mysteries, bleak landscapes and a lingering sense of dread will enjoy this, and the author’s notes may haunt you! 

It’s audacious, confident and bold in its ambitions. I finished it late at night, holding my breath, turning pages well past bedtime!

This review was first published in The Mature Times - December 2025 issue 

Sarah Sultoon is a journalist and writer, whose work as an international news executive at CNN has taken her all over the world, from the seats of power in both Westminster and Washington to the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan. 

She has extensive experience in conflict zones, winning three Peabody awards for her work on the war in Syria, an Emmy for her contribution to the coverage of Europe's migrant crisis in 2015, and a number of Royal Television Society gongs. 

As passionate about fiction as nonfiction, she recently completed a Masters of Studies in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge, adding to an undergraduate language degree in French and Spanish, and Masters of Philosophy in History, Film and Television. 

When not reading or writing she can usually be found somewhere outside, either running, swimming or throwing a ball for her three children and dog while she imagines what might happen if ...

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The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace by RWR McDonald BLOG TOUR @OrendaBooks #TheNancys #NewZealand #Mystery #MeetTheNancys

 

Meet the Nancys…

Tippy Chan is eleven years old, and she lives in a small town in a very quiet part of New Zealand – the town her Uncle Pike escaped as a teenager, the moment he got a chance. Now Pike is back with his new boyfriend Devon to look after Tippy while her mum is on a Christmas cruise.

Tippy can’t get enough of her uncle's old Nancy Drew books. She wants to be Nancy and is desperate to solve a real mystery. So, when her teacher's body is found beside Riverstone's only traffic light, it looks like Tippy's moment has arrived. She and her minders form The Nancys, a secret detective club.

But what starts as a bonding and sightseeing adventure quickly morphs into something far more dangerous. A wrongful arrest, a close call with the murderer, and an intervention from Tippy's mum all conspire against The Nancys. But regardless of their own safety, and despite the constant distraction of questionable fashion choices in the town that style forgot, The Nancys know only they can stop the killer from striking again. Whatever the cost…

Gripping, glorious and glittering with suspense, The Nancy’s is also a heartwarming, hilarious novel for anyone who’s ever felt like they were on the outside, looking in, with a simmering mystery at its heart and characters you will never forget.

A hilarious, and heartfelt twist on Nancy Drew – with murder, mayhem and makeovers in small-town New Zealand.

The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace by R W R McDonald was published on 20 November 2025 by Orenda Books. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour

I have to admit that recently, I've struggled with concentration. I have really found it difficult to settle down to read. This has infuriated and frustrated me. I think this book has fixed me! It is wonderful, it touched my heart so many times, I loved it.

The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace announces R.W.R. McDonald as a bold, bright new voice in fiction, his writing is fearless, funny, and full of heart. From the very first page, this debut absolutely thrills the reader with its blend of humour, warmth, and just the right touch of mischief.

At the centre of the story is Tippy Chan, who is just unforgettable. Eleven years old and armed with such curiosity and energy.  McDonald captures her perspective with such tenderness, and so clearly that it’s impossible not to root for her. And then there are Pike and Devon, outrageous, generous, chaotic, and always entertaining. Together, the trio form a detective team as unlikely as they are endearing, each bringing their own something the adventure.

McDonald’s writing sparkles with wit and compassion. He handles small-town New Zealand with a sharp and loving style, allowing the quirks and charms of the community to shine through. It’s a setting that feels lived-in and wonderfully vibrant.

The emotional depth of this story is perfect. Beneath the glitter, jokes, and glorious mayhem lies a story about belonging, about the families we’re born into, the ones we choose, and the ones that choose us. McDonald gives the novel a warmth that lingers long after you close the book.

And of course, the mystery itself is an absolute joy: engaging, clever, and filled with that delicious “just one more chapter” pull. Without ever tipping into darkness, it delivers genuine tension, balanced beautifully with heart and humour.

The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace is a sparkling, heartfelt debut bursting with personality. A glorious celebration of friendship, bravery, and the sheer delight of a good mystery, it’s the kind of book that feels like discovering a treasure, and one you’ll want to press into the hands of fellow readers with a smile.

R.W.R. McDonald (Rob) is an award-winning author, a Kiwi and Queer dad living in Melbourne with his two daughters and one HarryCat. 

His debut novel, The Nancys, won Best First Novel in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards, as well as being a finalist in the Best Novel category. 

It was shortlisted for Best First Novel in the 2020 Ned Kelly Awards, and Highly Commended for an Unpublished Manuscript in the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. 

His second novel, Nancy Business, was a finalist for Best Novel in the 2022 Ngaio Marsh Awards.