Adder Stone by Clare Clark #virtualbooktour #adderstone @claresclark @wiltonsquarebooks #bookreview #northwales #trywerynvalley

 

It is 1963 and in north Wales the Jones family are being forcibly ejected from the land they have farmed for generations. Their valley is to be drowned, turned into a reservoir for the people of Liverpool.

While her husband Dai is grief-stricken, Olwen Jones privately sees it as a blessing, an unforeseen chance to escape the narrow confines of the valley. But for her teenage son Emyr, Liverpool’s careless arrogance is proof that Wales will never be free to decide its own future until, like Ireland, it breaks the shackles of English imperialism.

Based on true events, Adder Stone is an exploration of personal identity and the possibilities and limits of love. How far will we go for our child or for our country? Who are we when we lose the places and the people that define us? And how much, in the end, is it possible to forgive?

Adder Stone by Clare Clark is published today; 5 November 2026 by Wilton Square Books. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this virtual book tour 

I loved this book. Adder Stone is one of those novels that stay in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.

I had heard about the flooding of the Tryweryn Valley in North Wales, but didn't really know much about it and  I  had never really considered what it must have meant to the families whose homes and farms and entire way of life were sacrificed to provide water for Liverpool. Clare Clark has taken this extraordinary piece of history and created something so powerful and very moving. 

At the heart of the story is the Jones family.  I was fascinated by how differently each of them react to losing the land that has been theirs for generations. Dai's grief is almost tangible, while young Emyr's anger takes him in another direction entirely. And then there's Olwen.

Oh, Olwen. What a character! I found her utterly compelling. I loved her contradictions, her private thoughts, her frustrations and the fact that she doesn't always feel what she thinks she ought to feel. I could understand her longing for something beyond the valley, even while recognising the terrible sadness of what was happening around her. She felt so real to me, and I found myself thinking about her even when I wasn't reading.

The author doesn't make anything straightforward for her characters. Love, loyalty, marriage, motherhood and belonging are all complicated, and people don't always behave as we'd like them to. I found myself sympathising with one character, then questioning them a few pages later. I love it when an author makes me do that.

The landscape is described so beautifully that I could almost feel the valley around me. Knowing what is to happen to it makes those descriptions all the more poignant.

This is a novel about so much more than a flooded village. It's about identity, family, sacrifice and the places that make us who we are.

Beautifully written, devastating and full of wonderfully believable characters. I was completely absorbed. A fabulous read.

Clare Clark is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels including The Great Stink and Savage Lands, both longlisted for the Women’s Prize. 

Her previous book, Trespass, exploring the murky world of undercover policing, was praised by the Mail on Sunday as ‘provocative, moving and timely’. 

Her books have been translated into seven languages.

Inside The Madhouse by Hope Daniels with Ann Cusack #insidethemadhouse @hackneychild @mirror.books @randomthingstours #virtualbooktour #memoir

 Inside The Madhouse gives a bitterly honest account of life on a modern psychiatric unit including the incredible camaraderie and the often unintentionally funny day-to-day routines.

Hope Daniels became a poster girl for surviving abuse and the care system, thanks to her 2014 Sunday Times bestseller Hackney Child.

Despite everything, Hope grew up determined to have a career and after the release of Hackney Child, she went on to have more successful books, building a loyal fanbase, while also becoming an ambassador and role model for others like her.

However, in Inside The Madhouse, her new and most raw memoir to date, Hope reveals her new life was not quite as rosy as many thought.

In 2022, when a difficult relationship came to a toxic end and her unresolved trauma of being abused as a teenager began to resurface, she tried to take her own life.

It resulted in her being forcibly sectioned and spending three months in two very different psychiatric hospitals - one NHS and one private. Now, against a backdrop of rattling keys, slamming doors, and the shrieks of patients resisting treatment, Hope reveals what life is really like on a psychiatric ward today - celebrating the unexpected camaraderie amongst the patients and the moments of dark humour which helped her through.

She met countless women who, like her, were haunted by the memories and effects of a lifetime of cruelty and neglect. Their stories are rarely told, they are the shadowy figures who often exist in the margins of society - far from family and friends. In this powerful memoir, Hope shares her own lived experience, and that of her fellow patients, and documents their joint journey towards redemption and recovery.

Inside The Madhouse by Hope Daniels with Ann Cusack was published by Mirror Books on 22 October 2026. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours virtual book tour.

Some books can be really uncomfortable reading, and Inside the Madhouse is certainly one of them. It's a very personal, often distressing account of a woman who has already survived more than most people could imagine, and finds herself facing another devastating time in her life.

Hope Daniels is probably best known for Hackney Child, her extraordinary account of growing up in the care system. In Inside The Madhouse she takes us into the frightening and bewildering world of psychiatric hospitals, when a mental health crisis resulted in her being sectioned for three months. She spent time in two different hospitals; one NHS, and one private. 

Hope describes the loss of freedom, the constant noise, the restrictions and some quite awful experiences of care. The contrast between the two hospitals raises uncomfortable questions about how people are treated when they're at their most vulnerable.

There is also humour here too, and I think that's one of the book's greatest strengths. Hope has a wonderfully sharp eye for the absurd, and even in the bleakest circumstances she finds moments of dark, sometimes wonderfully inappropriate humour. There is something very human about patients finding things to laugh about when almost everything else is beyond their control. These moments are a reminder that laughter can be an extraordinary means of survival.

The friendships and camaraderie between the women are really emotional, many of them are carrying their own heartbreaking histories. Their stories add another layer to an already fascinating memoir.

Ann Cusack helps bring Hope's distinctive voice to the page, balancing the rawness of her experiences with warmth and honesty. At times I found the relentless suffering overwhelming, and occasionally wished for a little more breathing space.

This isn't an easy book, nor should it be. But alongside the anger, sadness and frustration, there's resilience, compassion and a surprising amount of humour.

A challenging, eye-opening memoir that reminds us that even in the darkest places, people can still find reasons to laugh.

Hope Daniels is one of the UK’s foremost advocates for care leavers and social work. 

She has appeared on television and in the press and speaks at universities and other training bodies for social workers. 

She is also the author of four books that detail her own experience and those of others in care, the best known of which is ‘Hackney Child’ which was an instant Sunday Times bestseller.

Bestselling author and journalist, Ann Cusack has ghost-written nine memoirs, all of which have been original material self-sourced and developed. 

Ann has previously written several bestsellers for Mirror Books including Groomed by a Gang and Abandoned. 

Living and working in Manchester, where she was born, she has a long track record of following stories and working with ordinary people who have found themselves thrust into the spotlight by extraordinary even

What Will Save Us by Claire Seeber #whatwillsaveus @claireseeberauthor @valleypress @lendalpress #bookreview

 

Three spies. One Mission. Three agendas – and everything to lose.

On the eve of war, Anna takes a post in London as a nanny to a family with Nazi ties, hiding her desperate search for the baby she was forced to give up. 

Karl plays both sides of the Secret Service, hunting a double agent while haunted by a past he cannot forget. 

Elise is drawn back into the shadows she once escaped. 

Set across Britain, Germany and Austria, What Will Save Us is a thrilling, intimate tale of ordinary men and women, whose messy, broken lives end up changing the course of history.

What Will Save Us by Claire Seeber was published on 15 October 2026 by Lendal Press / Valley Press. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review. 

Some books entertain us and some make us think, and others that get right our your skin. What Will Save Us by Claire Seeber does all three of those things. I practically inhaled the book.

It's a sweeping, beautifully created story of espionage, betrayal, love, loss, and most importantly,  about people and the extraordinary lengths they'll go to for those they love.

The story begins in Austria in 1937, and we are  introduced to Anna, a young woman whose desperate actions bring her to the attention of Karl, a man working for both British and German intelligence. What follows is a dangerous journey into a world where nobody can be entirely trusted, loyalties are constantly changing and the consequences of making the wrong decision are terrifying.

What I really loved was that, despite the enormous historical events unfolding around them, Anna and Karl are the always the heart of the story. They are both complex and they have both suffered. They also both carry secrets, and are driven by very personal motivations. They are vulnerable and they are wonderful.

The author creates the atmosphere of pre-war Europe so convincingly. There's a sense of unease that increases throughout the story,  we are aware of the horrors waiting just around the corner. However,  alongside the tension and intrigue, there is such tenderness in the writing. The emotional story is just as compelling as the espionage.

Knowing that Anna was partly inspired by the author's own grandmother, and that the novel began during an incredibly difficult period in Claire Seeber's life, adds another layer of poignancy. There's a real sense of heart behind these pages.

I love historical fiction that teaches me something while keeping me completely absorbed in the characters' lives, and this certainly delivers. It's ambitious, atmospheric and full of difficult choices, with moments that are genuinely heartbreaking.

What Will Save Us is much so more than a wartime thriller. It's a powerful exploration of motherhood, survival, identity and the long lasting consequences of the past. A moving, memorable novel that will stay will be for a long time. Highly recommended. 

Born in London with a love of all things dramatic, Claire Seeber began her career as an
actress. Soon deciding she'd rather pull strings safely behind the scenes, Claire forged a successful career in documentary television, enabling her to travel the world, glimpsing lives otherwise unseen, also working as a feature writer for newspapers such as The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday and The Daily Telegraph.

She now works as a therapist, but is also a bestselling author of psychological suspense, with her novel Lullaby (Avon, 2007) recognised as one of the foundational works of 'domestic noir'. Her novel The Stepmother (Bookouture, 2016) has sold over 120,000 copies to date. Her 9 novels have been translated into 13 languages; she has been shortlisted for the 2023 Bridport Prize for Short Stories, and her short story 'He Did Not Always See Her' was shortlisted for a CWA Dagger. More recently, The Street Party and The Parents were both published by Bookouture, and reached the Top 5 Kindle Bestseller list.

Wolf Hour by Josephine Greenland #virtualbooktour #wolfhour @jgreenlandauthor @randomthingstours #bookrveview #crimefiction

 

When everyone around you becomes unreliable, even dangerous, can you trust a wild wolf?

Nella Khron partakes in her first wolf cull for a pack of illegally bred wolfdogs. 

She fails to shoot and hand over the wolf to protect herself, forming an unexpected bond with the mother wolf, Silence, who escapes. 

Soon she realizes that the wolf’s presence is connected to the murder of a fellow hunter and a criminal network terrorizing her hometown, and that her uncle, Roland, knows far more than he lets on. 

Ostrasized by her family and community, Nella has no one but herself and the wolf to trust. But can she guarantee that Silence won’t turn on her?

Wolf Hour by Josephine Greenland will be published in the Autumn by Stairwell Books. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Virtual Book Tour 

What an unusual and compelling novel this is! Wolf Hour by Josephine Greenland is a fabulous atmospheric mixture of crime fiction, suspense and the natural world, and I was completely caught up in Nella's story from the beginning.

Nella Khron takes part in a wolf cull, but when the moment comes to shoot, she cannot bring herself to do it. Her decision to spare a mother wolf named Silence is the beginning f a series of events that will change everything. With a murder to investigate, dangerous secrets emerging and those closest to her becoming increasingly unreliable, Nella finds herself isolated and unsure who she can trust.

Josephine Greenland's writing is so beautifully descriptive. The woodland setting is vividly brought to life, with the descriptions of the cold air and the sounds of the forest.  She creates a really haunting atmosphere, with a constant sense of unease throughout.

I especially loved the relationship between Nella and Silence. The connection between human and wild animal is handled with sensitivity, and brings up fascinating questions about trust, loyalty and our relationship with the natural world.

There's plenty here for crime fiction lovers too. The mystery is intriguing, the tension builds steadily, and I was constantly questioning the characters' motives. The touches of folklore add another depth to an already absorbing story.

I should mention that there are some distressing scenes involving wolves, which animal lovers may find difficult to read.

Wolf Hour is a powerful, thought-provoking and beautifully atmospheric novel. It's a little different from my usual crime fiction choices, but I really enjoyed it.

A gripping story with real heart. Highly recommended.

Josephine Greenland was born in Eskilstuna, Sweden, to Swedish and British parents. 

She moved to the UK to study English and Creative Writing and currently lives in Norwich, where she is pursuing a PhD at UEA. 

Her first novel, Embers, was published in 2021 with Unbound. 

Wolf Hour is her second novel, inspired by the woods, wildlife and hunting culture in her home region, and will be published with Stairwell Books. 

She is currently working on her third novel for her PhD thesis.

 

Instagram: @jgreenlandauthor                     

              

Facebook: Josephine Greenland Writer        

  

Website: https://www.josephinegreenland.com/

The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm by RWR McDonald #virtualbooktour #thenancys @rwrmcdonald @orendabooks #meetthenancys

 

The Nancys are back…

It's four months after Christmas, and Tippy Chan, Uncle Pike and Devon are reunited in Riverstone for the first anniversary of Tippy's father's death. This time, the plan is simple: no mysteries, no crimes, and definitely no secret detective clubs.

Riverstone has other ideas…

When an early-morning explosion destroys the town hall and kills three people, the town is thrown into chaos. An arrest is made and everyone in Riverstone decides the case is closed ... except for Tippy and the Nancys. Once again, it's up to the Nancys to go against the flow … and police advice.

Their search draws them towards Tulip Farm and raises more questions than answers. Is the accused bomber really guilty? Was he working alone? And when everyone else is convinced they're right, does that make you wrong?

With rumours spreading, tempers flaring and the threat of another attack hanging over the town, the Nancys must work out who to trust, who to ignore, and how to stop a killer before they strike again…

Funny, fearless and fizzing with heart, The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm is a joyful, nerve-jangling mystery about belonging, loyalty and asking awkward questions, with a dark and dangerous secret at its core and characters you will never forget…

A hilarious, and heartfelt twist on Nancy Drew – perfect for readers who love The List of Suspicious Things.

The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm by RWR McDonald was published on 8 October 2026 by Orenda Books and is the sequel to The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Virtual Book Tour 

I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series; The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace, so I was really looking forward to being reunited with Tippy Chan, her Uncle Pike and his partner Devon. What a fabulous bunch of characters they are! I'm really pleased to say that this second outing is every bit as entertaining as the first, and in some ways I think I enjoyed it even more.

It's four months since the events of the previous book, and the family are gathering in Riverstone to mark the first anniversary of Tippy's father's death. There are supposed to be no mysteries this time, absolutely no detective work. Of course, things don't quite go according to plan!

When an explosion devastates the town hall, killing three people, the police are quick to make an arrest. However, Tippy and her fellow Nancys are not convinced that everything is quite as straightforward as it seems. Before long, they're investigating again, despite being warned to leave well alone.

I'm certainly not going to give anything away about what happens next. This is a mystery that needs to be discovered by the reader, and there are no spoilers here!

I really do love these characters! Tippy is an absolute delight; inquisitive, determined, sometimes infuriating and always so believable. Pike and Devon are fabulous too, and the relationships between the three are at the very heart of what makes these books so special.

R.W.R. McDonald has a real talent for combining laugh-out-loud humour with some tender and emotional moments. Beneath the mystery there's  a clever exploration of grief, family, loyalty and belonging. Tippy's vulnerability is portrayed with such sensitivity. 

The mystery is cleverly constructed, with lots of intrigue and things that I didn't expect. I really like the small-town atmosphere, where everyone seems to know everyone else's business, yet secrets are everywhere.

This is a fabulous mixture of crime, comedy and emotion. Quirky, clever and occasionally outrageous!

This one can be read as a stand alone story, but I'd recommend reading the first book beforehand, simply because these characters are far too good to miss.

I absolutely loved being back in Riverstone with the Nancys. Highly recommended.

RWR McDonald is an award-winning Kiwi author, living in Melbourne, Australia with his two daughters and one HarryCat. 

Author of the award-winning Nancys series, The Nancys and Nancy Business, Rob is also a creative writing tutor and host of QWS Podcast. 

Rob now writes picture books by day and whodunit mysteries by night — except all his characters seem to be completely out of control and pay no attention to him, or any rules.

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.