Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult #hollowbones @jodipicoult @michaeljbooks #bookreview

 

When Molly Fitzgerald was two months old, her mother went to a morning appointment in downtown New York.

Like so many who left their homes on September 11th, 2001, Molly’s mother never came home.

Now Molly saves lives for a living, running a department for when disasters strike.

Molly and her husband Jesse―a police polygraph expert with his own fractured family―have found a love that is a solace in a dangerous world.

But then Molly’s whole world is turned on its head. She’s spent her life preparing for catastrophe. But nothing could prepare her when a disaster strikes too close to home.

In this powerful novel, Jodi Picoult tells an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult is published on 5 November 2026 by Michael Joseph. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy. 

I've been reading Jodi Picoult for years, I always look forward to her books with a real sense of anticipation. I know that whatever the subject, I'm going to be challenged, emotionally involved and, almost certainly, left questioning things I thought I understood. With Hollow Bones I did exactly that. In fact, I think this is one of her finest novels, right up there with Nineteen Minutes and My Sister's Keeper. 

Molly Fitzgerald lost her mother in the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. She was just a tiny baby at the time and she's grown up in the shadow of an unimaginable tragedy. Now working in disaster management, Molly has dedicated her life to preparing for the worst, helping others through the most frightening circumstances. Yet nothing can prepare her for what happens when her own carefully constructed world begins to unravel.

I'm deliberately saying very little about the plot. This is one of those books where the less you know beforehand, the better. The author takes her readers in directions they could never anticipate, and the revelations are extraordinarily well handled.

What I really love about Jodi Picoult's writing is how she never offer easy answers. She explores difficult, often uncomfortable subjects with intelligence, compassion and really does seem to have an extraordinary understanding of human behaviour. Her characters are wonderfully complex, often flawed and sometimes make decisions that are almost impossible to comprehend. Yet she makes us consider their circumstances, their motivations and the terrible choices people can face.

The research is meticulous, but never overwhelms the emotional heart of the story. The exploration of motherhood, grief, trauma and the complicated nature of love is so very powerful. There were moments when I had to stop reading, simply to absorb what I'd just discovered.

And then there was the unexpected appearance of a character from an earlier Picoult novel! What a wonderful surprise that was. I certainly wasn't expecting it, and I absolutely loved that connection.

A little note for readers: Jodi Picoult doesn't shy away from difficult subjects, and this novel explores some particularly sensitive and emotionally challenging aspects of mental health, including maternal mental illness, trauma and moments of profound emotional distress. These are not always easy things to read about, and some scenes may be upsetting, particularly for those with personal experience of these issues. I think the author handles them with her usual compassion, sensitivity and understanding, but it's worth being aware of the subject matter before picking up this book.

I finished Hollow Bones feeling emotionally wrung out, but also enormously pleased that I have read it. 

A remarkable, deeply affecting novel from a writer at the very height of her powers. One of my books of the year, without question.

Jodi Picoult is the author of 30 novels, with 60 million copies sold worldwide. 

She has had 17 Sunday Times number one bestsellers. 

Five novels have been made into movies and Between The Lines (co-written with daughter Samantha van Leer) has been adapted as a musical. 

She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the New England Bookseller Award for
Fiction, the Alex Award from the YA Library Services Association, and the NH Literary Award for Outstanding Literary Merit.

She is also the co-librettist for the musicals BREATHE and THE BOOK THIEF.

She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.

Murder at the Mill by T A Belshaw #murderatthemill @t.a.belshaw @pellerinbooks @randomthingstours #goldenagemystery #crimefiction

 

Discover Amy Rowlings: quick-witted movie buff, avid reader of crime fiction, and amateur sleuth.

January 1939. When clothing-factory heir Edward Handlsey is found murdered in a snow-covered Kentish town, mill worker Amy Rowlings finds herself at the top of the suspect list. The man had many enemies, many of them female, but Amy was the most recent victim of his wily ways.

Luckily, as a certified lover of Agatha Christie novels, she’s perfectly capable of clearing her own name.

Impressed by her skills, new-in-town Detective Sergeant Bodkin accepts Amy’s investigative aid and local knowledge. But when he arrests an innocent man, Amy decides to take matters into her own hands. Armed with tactics from her beloved Poirot, she begins digging into the victim's shady history.

As Amy clashes with Bodkin’s rigid, facts-only investigation – despite finding herself increasingly charmed by the good-looking detective – she must unmask the real killer before the winter snow covers their tracks for good.

Murder at the Mill is the first in the cozy, historical Amy Rowlings Golden Age Mysteries series, which can be read in any order. For fans of Verity Bright, Helena Dixon, and Felicity Penn.

Murder At The Mill by T A Belshaw was published on 13 October 2026 by Pellerin. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Book Tour 

Murder at the Mill is the first in a new historical cosy crime series from T A Belshaw, and introduces readers to Amy Rowlings, a factory worker with a passion for Agatha Christie and absolutely no intention of letting anyone tell her what to do!

It's January 1939, in a snowy Kentish town, and when a wealthy factory heir is murdered, Amy finds herself firmly in the frame. She's not going to sit quietly and wait for the police to sort things out and she decides to do a little investigating of her own.

I liked Amy enormously. She's feisty, intelligent, sometimes infuriating, and certainly not afraid to speak her mind. Her exchanges with Detective Sergeant Bodkin are great fun, and I enjoyed the way she challenges his pretty conventional approach.

The author has created a really convincing sense of time and place, with some lovely observations about working-class life and the expectations that are placed upon women. There's a gentle humour running throughout, too.

For me, the mystery itself was occasionally a little too straightforward, and I would have welcomed more tension and a few surprises along the way.

However, this is an engaging, undemanding read with a fabulous central character. A promising start to a new series, and I'd happily spend more time in Amy's company.

T. A. Belshaw's Amy Rowlings Mystery series has been acquired by Pellerin Books who republished the entire series on October 13th 2026 and publish two new Amy Rowlings mystery books in 2027. Peril at the Picture House and Death on the Dover Express.

Finalist for the Romantic Novelists Association Romantic Thriller Award 2026 with Twice Dead at the Tavern, which has also been shortlisted in the Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem Cosy Crime Awards 2027.

T. A. Belshaw is a British author best known for the Amy Rowlings Mystery series, a collection of character‑driven cosy crime novels set in 1930s Kent. Blending gentle humour, classic whodunit plotting, and rich period detail, his books follow the adventures of Amy Rowlings — a sharp‑witted, film‑loving amateur sleuth with a knack for uncovering secrets in the most unexpected places.

A lifelong fan of Golden Age detective fiction, Belshaw draws inspiration from the works of Agatha Christie and other classic mystery writers, while bringing his own warmth and modern storytelling style to the genre. His stories are filled with village and small town intrigue, colourful characters, and the charm of pre‑war Britain, offering readers a nostalgic escape into a world of clues, gossip, and slow‑burn suspense.

When he isn’t writing, Belshaw enjoys researching 1930s life, especially in his home town of Ilkeston in Derbyshire, where he lives with his chatty rescue cat, Mia, and connecting with readers who share his love of traditional cosy mysteries. His work continues to grow a loyal following among fans of light‑hearted whodunits, historical crime fiction, and strong female sleuths

Look out for several short Amy Rowlings mysteries in 2026/27; the first novella, Lethal Ledger coming soon.

T. A. Belshaw is currently working on Murder in Miniature. An Amy Rowlings short mystery.

The Eyewitness by Naomi Williams #theeyewitness @lisatimoneywrites @headlinebooks #naomiwilliams #bookreview #psychologicalthriller

 

Rachel Cartwright has a terrifying condition. Every 48 hours, her eyes shut - and stay that way for two long days.

When the darkness comes, she's completely vulnerable. She can't work. She can't leave her home. And worst of all...

She's certain she's not alone.

Rachel can't prove it. No one else believes her.

Except me.

As her doctor, it's my job to help her. To protect her. To watch over her when she can't watch for herself.

But the more time I spend with Rachel, the more I realise she's hiding something. A secret buried deep in her past. Something she refuses to talk about.

And now...

I think someone is watching me too.

A heart-stopping psychological thriller that will keep you up all night - from the author of The Woman in Ward 9. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell.

The Eyewitness by Naomi Williams was published on 16 July 2026 by Headline. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review. 

I read and enjoyed The Woman in Ward 9 by Naomi Williams last year.  I read this one whilst in Corfu earlier this month and it kept me hooked.

What an intriguing premise! I love it when a book comes along with an idea that is so unusual that I just have to know more, and The Eyewitness is certainly one of those. I was fascinated by the concept from the beginning, but what I really loved was the completely unexpected direction that the author took her story. 

Rachel Cartwright has a terrifying condition. Every forty-eight hours her eyes close, leaving her unable to see for the next two days. That must be terrifying, especially when you are convinced that someone is watching you, or even entering your home. Rachel's doctor, Beth Sanderson, is determined to help, but the more involved she becomes, the more questions begin to emerge.

I thought this was such a clever starting point for a psychological thriller. The idea of being unable to see, whilst knowing that something isn't quite right around you, creates such a  sense of vulnerability. Naomi Williams uses this brilliantly, building an atmosphere of unease that grows steadily more unsettling as the story progresses.

Even the title is wonderfully clever. The Eyewitness takes on a real significance when the central character cannot actually see, and as the story unfolds, the meaning of that word becomes even more interesting. I do love a title that makes you think!

I really enjoy it when my expectations and challenged and blown out of the window! . Just when I thought I had a reasonable idea of what was happening, the author took the story somewhere entirely different. There were moments when I was convinced I'd worked things out, only to discover that I really hadn't!

The characters are interesting, the pacing is excellent and there's a brilliant uncomfortable feeling that nobody is quite as straightforward as they first appear.

I've enjoyed this so much that I've just bought a digital copy for my other half (he doesn't read physical books), and am looking forward to comparing notes with him! 

The Eyewitness is an entertaining, twisty and thoroughly absorbing thriller. It's the originality of the premise, combined with the direction the author takes to reach that ending, that really makes this one stand out for me. A very enjoyable read indeed!

Originally from Yorkshire, Naomi Williams now lives in London with her husband and two teenage daughters. 

She started her career teaching English and Drama and now writes novels in a wide range of genres, including THE MEMORY LIBRARY (writing as Kate Storey) and HER DAUGHTER'S SECRET (writing as Lisa Timoney).

Naomi made her thriller debut with THE WOMAN IN WARD 9, which was an ebook bestseller. 

THE EYEWITNESS is her second psychological thriller.

The Woman At The Funeral by S E Lynes #thewomanatthefuneral @selynesauthor @bookouture #booksontour #bookreview

 

I thought she was dead. Then I saw her…

Sophie and I were the best of friends. We lived together. We laughed together. We did everything together.

Now I stand in the rain outside the churchyard, hiding behind the trees. I know her family blame me for her death. They will never believe me, even if I try to explain.

And then a woman among the crowd draws my eye and I start to shake. The long strawberry blonde hair. The shape of her nose. It’s Sophie.

It can’t be true. But in the days that follow, when I see her again at the end of our street, when I find the photo in her empty room, when the cruel tricks start again… I’m forced to wonder:

Am I going mad, or is Sophie still alive?

And if she’s still alive, what will she do to me?

A completely gripping thriller about toxic friendships that will keep you turning pages as the tension mounts. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley will love The Woman at the Funeral.

The Woman at the Funeral by S E Lynes was published on 14 October 2026 by Bookouture. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Books on Tour promotion.

Susie (S E) Lynes is one of those authors that I will read even if I've not read the blurb. Her books are intense, dramatic and always incredibly entertaining. I did read the blurb for this one and I just knew that she was on to another winner. The premise is intriguing and the opening pages pull you in like a fish on a hook ..... you are gradually pulled in further and further until you just cannot stop reading. 

So, a tiny bit about the plot.  Maggie and Sophie were flatmates, work colleagues and best friends. They shared everything. Sophie is dead. Maggie is watching her funeral from a distance. It has been made clear by Sophie's family that she is not welcome at the service. And then, Maggie sees Sophie getting into one of the funeral cars.  How on earth? Sophie is dead, she knows she is, she saw her. 

The author tells the story from both Maggie and Sophie's point of view and over a dual timeline too. It's incredibly well structured and I had a sense of dread throughout. We know the ending, but how do we get there ..... or do we know the ending at all??

This is a tremendous portrait of a toxic relationship. We often see these in fiction in romantic relationships but rarely between friends. I think it's safe to say that women's friendships can be the most joyous, comforting things, but when they go wrong, they really can shatter a person.  There are behaviours described within Maggie and Sophie's relationship that are, at times, difficult to read and to digest. The most unscrupulous and really quite evil character doing heinous things whilst creating a facade of smiles and tenderness. 

I read this in a couple of sittings whilst on holiday in Corfu, eagerly lapping up the story but certainly not expecting the twists and turns that this incredibly clever author threw at me. 

Susie Lynes has done it again. This is a gripping, unsettling and utterly addictive psychological thriller that explores the darker side of friendship with such skill. I was completely caught up in Maggie and Sophie's story, and even when I thought I knew where things were heading, I really didn't. Absolutely brilliant and highly recommended. 

Formerly a BBC producer, S.E. Lynes turned to writing following the birth of her third
child. 

After completing an MA in Creative Writing, she became a tutor at Richmond Adult Community College, where she taught creative writing for over ten years. 

She now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. 

Her debut, Valentina, was published by Blackbird Digital Books in 2016. 

Her follow up, the dark and twisting bestseller Mother, was published by Bookouture in November 2017 and Susie has gone on to publish gripping psychological thrillers with them ever since.

A Deadly Abode by Jane McParkes #VirtualBookTour #adeadlyabode @janemcparkes_author @randomthingstours @noexitpress #bookreview

 

It's autumn and with crisp frosty weather and the leaves as colourful as they've ever been, Olivia and Jago are nestling into their life in Penbartha. Until local resentment about incomers and second-home ownership is ignited by what seems to be an increasingly militant action group.

Maybe Penbartha isn't the happy place Olivia thought it was? Is the discontent really about second homes or is someone pursuing a much more personal agenda?

When a neighbouring house is set on fire and a body found in one of the outbuildings, Olivia and Jago need to find the source of the trouble before it gets even closer to home...

A Deadly Abode by Jane McParkes was published on 8 October 2026 by No Exit Press and is book three in the Olivia Wells mystery series. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Virtual Book Tour 

There is something really appealing about a crime novel set in a small Cornish village, especially as autumn has arrived, the leaves are turning and there's a chill in the air. A Deadly Abode by Jane McParkes has all of that lovely atmosphere. However, beneath the picturesque setting there is a great deal of anger, resentment and some very troubling secrets.

This is the third book in the Olivia Wells Mysteries series, and although I haven't read the previous two, I had absolutely no difficulty settling into the story. The author introduces her characters and their relationships naturally, and I soon felt quite at home in Penbartha.

Olivia and her partner Jago are enjoying their life in Cornwall, but tensions surrounding second-home ownership and newcomers to the village are beginning to boil over. When a fire at a neighbouring property leads to a grim discovery, things become considerably more sinister.

I really enjoyed the way the author weaves some very real concerns into the mystery. The impact of second homes on small communities, the importance of belonging and the different ways people respond to change all add depth to this story. These are issues that are especially relevant in Cornwall, and they provide much more than just a backdrop to the crime.

The village setting is beautifully created, with its close-knit community, simmering disagreements and characters who don't always reveal everything they're thinking.

A Deadly Abode is an engaging, atmospheric mystery with a great balance of cosy village life and darker undercurrents. An enjoyable introduction to Olivia and Jago for me, and I'm certainly tempted to go back and discover how their story began.

Jane is the author of a new cosy crime series with an eco twist. 

It includes 'green' characters, ideas and solutions set against the backdrop of traditional murder mysteries. 

After a lifetime of secret scribbling, it was the diagnosis of a rare, but treatable cancer that focused Jane’s mind on taking her writing seriously. 

The Olivia Wells Mysteries combine Jane's love of Cornwall and her interest in the environment and sustainability.

The Cutting by Michael J Malone #thecutting @malonemichaelj @orendabooks #bookreview #anniejacksonmysteries .#supernatural #historical #serialkiller

 

The most dangerous voices are the ones that no one else can hear…

Evie Cartwright first speaks to the dead as a child. When she leaves home for university, her ability takes a terrifying turn after she witnesses a brutal murder. By morning, she is haunted by a dead serial killer who refuses to leave her alone, and marked by a cut across her neck that never heals.

For the next ten years, Evie is driven from place to place, searching for a way to rid herself of the voice that torments her day and night. When desperation leaves her with nowhere else to turn, she arrives at the remote Highland home of Annie Jackson, hoping she will finally find answers.

As Annie and her brother Lewis begin to investigate, helped by an old friend with specialist knowledge of the occult, they are drawn into a dark and dangerous search that reaches deep into Scotland's history.

And some ghosts are not content to remain in the shadows…

A gothic thriller with a spellbinding mystery at its heart, The Cutting is the fourth instalment in Michael J. Malone's acclaimed Annie Jackson series, and this time, danger may be impossible to outrun.

The Cutting by Michael J Malone was published on 24 September 2026 by Orenda Books and is book four in the Annie Jackson mystery series. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Virtual Book Tour 

I’ve been reading Michael J. Malone for many years now, and one of the things I love about his writing is his ability to take darkness, fear and strangeness and create characters who feel completely real. The Cutting is the fourth Annie Jackson Mystery and delivers exactly what I love. This is an unsettling, atmospheric and quite deliciously creepy addition to a series that continues to fascinate me.

Evie Cartwright has been able to communicate with the dead since childhood, but what might sound like a gift has become something altogether more terrifying. For ten years she has been haunted by the voice of a dead serial killer, a relentless presence that she cannot escape. Desperate for help, she eventually makes her way to Annie Jackson's remote Highland home.

Annie understands only too well that there are things in this world that cannot be easily explained. Along with her brother Lewis she begins to look into Evie's experiences. What follows takes them into some particularly dark corners of Scotland's history.

I really do love the way this author combines the supernatural with historical fact. There is a fabulous gothic quality to The Cutting, but beneath the ghosts, strange voices and things that might be lurking out of sight is something very human. Scotland's past is a chilling era, especially the persecution, superstition and fear that surrounded women who were deemed different or dangerous.

The Highland setting is superb too.  There is something about a remote Scottish landscape, an old history and the possibility of things unseen that makes the imagination work overtime. This author understands that what we cannot quite see is often far more frightening than anything that is placed directly in front of us.

Annie is a terrific character. Having followed her through the previous books, returning to her world feels really familiar, but also a little uncomfortable.  There is always the sense that her abilities can demand more from her than she is wants to give.

Dark, twisty and wonderfully atmospheric, The Cutting has everything I want from this series. Mystery, folklore, history and the supernatural are woven together beautifully, creating a story that is genuinely unsettling without ever relying on cheap scares.

Michael J. Malone has done it again. And yes, I’ll be waiting impatiently for more Annie Jackson.

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, In the Absence of Miracles and A Song of Isolation soon followed suit. 

A former Regional Sales Manager at Faber & Faber, he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. 

Michael lives in Ayr.

Wolves of Londinium by Kate Cunningham #Giveaway #VirtualBookTour #WolvesofLondinium @reading_riddle @randomthingstours #Prize #Competition

 

This is an adventure where you, the reader, get to choose which timeline you want to follow. Will you succeed in finding the emeralds or will you end up locked up or eaten by a tiger?

As you race to find the jewels you are given choices and these decisions will determine the outcome of the story. Along the way you may visit the harbour, forum, temples and baths. Be careful what you eat and consider how to appease the gods.

It is the year 122 AD

The Emporer Hadrian is visiting Britannia and your mother the aurifix, an expert goldsmith, has been commissioned to make a gold statue of a wolf to present to him.

In these adventures children get the opportunity to immerse themselves in an adventure and learn about a particular moment in history.

Along with Sam's ink drawings of the places and people of Roman London, this book will give children an insight into life 1,900 years ago.

Reading Riddle books help children learn while enjoying a story, and in our CAT (Choose A Timeline) books they have the power to choose which storyline to follow.

Wolves of Londinium by Kate Cunningham and illustrated by Sam Cunningham was published in July 2026 by Reading Riddle.

As part of this #RandomThingsTours Virtual Book Tour, I am delighted to have a fabulous giveaway today.  The prize is a book signed by Kate and Sam with a drawing by Sam inside and a wolf soft toy. The toy is from the Puppet Company and suitable from birth

Entry is simple, just fill out the competition widget on this page. UK Entries only.

GOOD LUCK! 

Wolves of Londinium

When she was young Kate promised she would never go out with a boy called Sean (too
naughty), study history (too boring) or be a teacher (too hard) but she dreamt of writing books.

Luckily dreams can come true and promises are made to be broken.

She now writes books inspired by fascinating stories from history, visits schools using her ten years of teaching experience, and is married to historian Sean Cunningham. 

After all life would be very boring if you knew how it was going to turn out.

Kate works with her eldest son, illustrator Sam Cunningham, who creates the wonderful hand-drawn pictures in all the Reading Riddle children’s books.

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