The Hotel Manager's Guide To Murder by Erlendur Arason t. Quentin Bates #blekverk @graskeggur #erlendurarason #nordicnoir #translatedfiction

 

The smarter a place looks, the darker the secrets it hides.

Guests at one of Reykjavík’s smartest hotels never know what happens behind the scenes –including what brings a group of down-and-outs to the Bristol Hotel every winter night while the rest of the world sleeps.

When overworked supervisor Torfi finds himself given an unexpected promotion that comes with a respectable pay rise, he takes it as a lucky break – until he’s told to make a murder victim disappear, and that he doesn’t have any choice. That’s when his life rapidly gets a lot more complicated.

What isn’t he being told? Torfi doesn’t know, but when police officers Haukur and Dagný start asking awkward questions, he needs to find answers – even though he knows only half of the story.

The Hotel Manager's Guide to Murder by Erlendur Arason was published on 25 July 2026 by Blekverk and is translated from the Icelandic by Quentin Bates. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Virtual Book Tour 

I was instantly attracted by this book; a crime novel set in a hotel, and also translated fiction - perfect for me!

Guests only ever see the polished public face of a hotel, yet behind the scenes there is a completely different world, there's lots of hard work, complicated relationships and, in this case, some very dangerous secrets. Erlendur Arason makes excellent use of that setting in The Hotel Manager's Guide to Murder, and this is a really  entertaining Icelandic crime novel based on an unusual idea.

Torfi is such an easy character to like. He is an ordinary man who suddenly finds himself caught up in events that are far beyond anything he could have imagined. He is unexpectedly promoted and this quickly becomes something altogether more sinister, and watching him try to navigate increasingly impossible situations really makes this so compelling. There is plenty of tension, but there are also moments of dry humour that stop the novel from becoming too dark.

The hotel itself is just as important as the characters. The contrast between the elegant image presented to guests and the chaos unfolding behind closed doors is wonderfully done. Reykjavík also comes alive on the page, with its cold winter streets adding to the atmosphere. Alongside the murder mystery, the novel's themes look at social inequality and the realities of modern city life, giving the story an added sense of depth.

Quentin Bates's translation is excellent. The writing feels natural throughout, allowing the characters and the steadily building suspense to take centre stage. The narrative flows really well.

I did feel that some aspects of the criminal plot became a little overcomplicated as the novel progressed, and there were one or two supporting characters I would have liked to find out more about.  This does not take away the fact that  this is a really great debut with an fabulous lead character. The setting is so memorable and there's such an intriguing glimpse into a world that most hotel guests never stop to think about. I'll certainly be interested to see where Torfi's story goes next.

Erlendur Arason is a fresh voice in Nordic Noir, bringing a sharp, sardonic new take to the genre.

The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder is the first in a new trilogy set in and around Reykjavík.

Circle of Secrets by Ceril Campbell #VirtualBookTour #CircleofSecrets @cerilcampbell @booksmjp @randomthingstours #bookreview

 

In the glamorous world of fashion, fame, and power, beauty hides blemishes and success conceals scars.

When a young model disappears in Europe, her absence begins to expose the hidden fractures beneath the industry’s most glamorous elite. While a circle of friends, whose worlds - built on ambition, betrayal, and silence - begin to crack and truths that could destroy them all claw their way to the surface.

At the height of the hedonistic 1980s, from the polished veneer of the modelling world in London and Milan, to the freedom of Soho where identities blur, lives begin to unravel. Mothers haunted by loss, beautiful women desperate to bury their past, and powerful men entangled in guilt, desire, and control.

Circle of Secrets is a stylish, character-driven drama of glamour and deception, exploring how far people will go to protect the lies that define them.

Circle of Secrets by Ceril Campbell was published on 2 July 2026 by Matthew James Publishing. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Virtual Book Tour 

I am a fan of novels set in the 1980s and Circle of Secrets captures both the glamour and the excesses of those times. From London's fashion scene to the streets of Milan and the nightlife of Soho, Ceril Campbell creates a vivid setting for a story filled with secrets, complicated relationships and the pressures of living up to expectations.

At the centre of the novel there is a group of connected characters, they all carry secrets that gradually begin to affect those around them. Jade's journey into the modelling world is fascinating and highlights the contrast between the industry's glamorous image and the harsh realities that lie beneath it. Simon, Paula and Chloe each bring something different to the story, with their own hopes, disappointments and personal challenges, and these add real depth to the novel. Although there are plenty of characters to get to know, their lives soon become interwoven and it is the relationships between them that really keeps you turning the pages. 

Ceril Campbell's experience within the fashion industry shines through, giving the novel an authentic feel without becoming overly detailed. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young model is the underlying thread throughout the book.. There are themes of friendship, loyalty, ambition and betrayal, and these are explored alongside the darker side of fame and success.

There were times when the story slowed when the attention shifted between the different characters and their own storylines, which occasionally affected the momentum. However, readers who enjoy character led fiction with plenty of drama and emotional conflict will really enjoy this one.

Circle of Secrets is an entertaining novel that mixes glamour with family drama and some mystery. It is an interesting look behind the polished image of the fashion world while reminding us that appearances rarely tell the whole story.

Ceril Campbell has always been passionate about fashion.For over thirty years she has worked as a celebrity stylist, fashion commentator and expert on TV and radio with her own magazine columns and features. Her debut novel, Secrets in the Dark, is not autobiographical in any way, but is inspired by her insider knowledge of the glamorous world of celebrity.

Ceril is now a broadcaster and motivational speaker, helping clients with lifestyle, image, life change, self-esteem, positive body confidence and mental wellness.Ceril has also written self-help books, including Discover the New You: Celebrity Stylist Secrets to Transform Your Life and Style. She lives in London and has two adult children.

To find out more about Ceril, visit her website www.cerilcampbell.com, and follow her on  Instagram @cerilcampbell.

The Angel of Death by Trevor Wood #BookReview #TheAngelofDeath @TrevorWoodWrite @OrendaBooks @RandomTTours #Newcastle #CrimeFiction #Dementia

 

When a self-styled Angel of Death begins granting the dying a final act of mercy on the streets of Newcastle, DCI Jack Parker is forced to confront both a ruthless killer and his own advancing dementia. The gripping third instalment in Trevor Wood's addictive, gritty DCI Jack Parker series.

DCI Jack Parker is BACK…

Death is stalking the streets of Newcastle. An anonymous killer is offering the terminally ill a dignified escape. Mercy to some. Murder to others.

KILLER

DCI Jack Parker doesn't want the case. He has a secret of his own – an early-onset dementia diagnosis he's desperate to conceal. But the signs are becoming impossible to ignore. As his mind begins to betray him, the city faces its own moral reckoning.

OR

While politicians debate a contentious new law and the self-styled Angel of Death selects another victim, Jack's world is shaken when the killings are traced to a carers' support group – one his wife, Helen, has been attending in secret.

SAINT

Yet his deepest fear is also his darkest temptation. Because when his disease becomes unbearable, Jack can't escape one haunting question:

Could the Angel of Death be the saviour he's been waiting for?

The Angel of Death by Trevor Wood was published by Orenda Books on 16 July 2026 and is the third book in the DCI Jack Parker series. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Virtual Book Tour 

I am a HUGE fan of this author and this series. Gritty, northern crime drama - an amazing cast of characters; tense and clever plotting, a terrific sense of place and also an empathetic and caring look at the horrors of early onset dementia. It really is a cracking series. 

I read and reviewed the first two in the series; The Silent Killer, in October 2024, and The Inside Man in July 2025. It has felt like a very long wait for this third book.  However, I have been absolutely blown away by The Angel of Death, the first two books were amazing but this one is incredible. The best yet. 

The Angel of Death is on the streets of Newcastle. It's a strange case for DCI Jack Parker, and his team Leon and Emma. This is no ordinary serial killer, this is a man who appears to offering a dignified and pain free escape to those who are living with life limiting diseases.  A sort of unofficial Dignitas and whilst there are surely arguments that say that this is a blessing, it is still murder and has to be investigated.

What I really love about this series is the intricate creation of the characters and their lives. We have followed Jack from his very first diagnosis of early onset dementia, where he kept it to himself and didn't cope well.  He is now more open about his condition and the author has clearly researched this terrible disease as the reader accompanies Jack on what feels like a very authentic journey. 

However, this doesn't ever take away from the central crime plot at all, in fact, in this story, Jack's own condition enhances his reasoning and determination to track down the 'Angel'.  It's a tense and complex plot which is paced perfectly and totally gripped me. The gentle unravelling of the of the case is splendidly done, with fabulous dialogue, a little humour to lighten the darkness and OMG, that ending! 

Another fabulous novel from one of our finest crime authors.  Perfect plotting, amazing characterisation and totally gripping. Highly recommended. 

Trevor Wood has lived in Newcastle for 30 years and considers himself an adopted
Geordie, though he still can’t speak the language. 

He's a successful playwright who has also worked as a journalist and spin-doctor for the City Council. 

Prior to that he served in the Royal Navy for 16 years joining, presciently, as a Writer. 

Trevor holds an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) from UEA. 

His first novel, The Man on the Street, won the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, the Crimefest Specsavers Best Crime Debut Award and was shortlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. It was followed by two more critically-acclaimed books in the Jimmy Mullen trilogy, One Way Street and Dead End Street. 

His next book, You Can Run, a standalone thriller set in a remote Northumberland village, was also long-listed for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. 

The Angel of Death is the third in a police procedural series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jack Parker, who is in the first stages of early-onset dementia. The series started with The Silent Killer and was followed by The Inside Man.

Trevor is one of the founding members of the Northern Crime Syndicate.

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom #thehouseofhiddenletters @isabelle_broom @penguinukbooks #bookreview #greece #dualtimeline

 

For sale: Greek cottage. Price: One Euro.

Skye doesn’t make impulsive decisions. But when she sees a derelict Greek cottage for sale by lottery, she enters with dreams of a fresh start.

However, her heart sinks as she pushes open the tattered blue door weeks later. Can this wreck ever be her home?

Then Skye finds a bundle of letters hidden in the fireplace, their faded pages drawing her in with a story of long-forgotten love, tragedy, and unbelievable bravery.

But all the while, Skye’s own past is circling. No matter how far she goes, fate is never far behind…

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom was published on 26 March 2026 by Penguin. 

I am a huge fan of Izzy Broom's writing - her previous novels are published as Isabelle, rather than Izzy and are all deliciously entertaining. What I can absolutely guarantee every time after reading one of Izzy's novels is that my search history is full of holidays to the location that she's written about! She is remarkable in her descriptive writing and makes every location feel like somewhere that just has to be visited. 

In The House of Hidden Letters she returns to Greece, specifically to the island of Folengandros; a small island in the Aegean Sea tthat forms part of the southern Cyclades. I have not been there, but, of course, I now desperately want to. 

I read this book whilst holidaying in Parga - a fabulous town on mainland Greece, the sun was shining and all was well and this book added so much to my holiday, it's an absolutely perfect holiday read, especially if you are in Greece. 

Izzy Broom has always written contemporary stories and this novel sees her stray into historical fiction, it is a dual timeline (which I always love), and it's immersive, engaging and I loved it. 

Skye is looking for a fresh start, so when she spots a one-euro lottery for a derelict cottage on the remote Greek island of Folegandros, it feels like the perfect escape. Winning the cottage brings not only a crumbling home to restore but also a wonderful new circle of friends and a community she never knew she needed.

When Skye uncovers a bundle of wartime letters hidden in the cottage, and the discovery of long-buried skeletons rocks the island, the story takes on a fascinating new dimension. We are taken back to July 1940 when the house was occupied by Katerina. I was completely captivated by Katerina's story; her courage and resilience made her an unforgettable character.

The dual timeline is beautifully balanced, with both Skye and Katerina determined to forge their own paths despite the challenges they face. The author does deal with some emotionally challenging issues but she does it with skill and empathy. Rich in history and friendships, this is an absorbing and emotional novel that transported me to Greece. I finished it wishing I could book a trip to Folegandros and already looking forward to reading the next in the series. 

Izzy (Isabelle) Broom is the author of thirteen books, most recently The House of Hidden Letters, and has been published in fourteen overseas territories. 

In 2015, she won The Great British Write Off with her short story, 'The Wedding Speech', which was later adapted into a film. 

Her fifth novel, One Thousand Stars and You, was awarded Contemporary Romance Novel of the Year at the 2019 RNAs. 

Based in Suffolk, Izzy travels widely, searching the world for inspiration – a quest that led her to the Greek island of Folegandros, where her latest series of books are set. 

To find out more about her writing life, you can find her on social media under @isabelle_broom.

A Death In The Gym by Patrick Hardy #adeathinthegym @pat_rick1997 @randomthingstours #AuthorInterview

 

Josh Stern has two jobs and he likes to keep them separate. A personal trainer during the day and a part-time investigator by night. 

When a dead body is found in Josh's gym, it sets off a series of seemingly unconnected events, reigniting an old case he thought he'd solved - the disappearance of a twenty-year old student more than two decades ago.

As Josh is pulled into a web of deception, decades of lies surrounding a young woman's disappearance need to be untangled, where every truth uncovered reveals a darker secret.

A Death In The Gym by Patrick Hardy was published on 28 March 2026 by Troubador. I am delighted to share this interview with the author today, as part of the #RandomThingsTours Virtal Book Tour. 

Interview with Patrick Hardy - author of A Death in the Gym 

The premise of A Death In The Gym combines the worlds of fitness and private investigation. What inspired you to create Josh Stern, and how did the character first come to life?

I was keen to write about a world I am familiar with – the world of fitness and personal training. But to make that world more interesting, I wanted to add another dimension which was the world of private investigation. The inspiration for Josh Stern was to create a character who could live in both worlds. It sounds clichéd but once I had the idea of that character, Josh Stern just emerged from my imagination.

The novel revolves around a decades-old disappearance and long-buried secrets. What drew you to exploring themes of memory, deception, and the lasting impact of the past?

I was keen on the idea of two seemingly unrelated stories becoming, over the course of the narrative, interconnected. Keeping the stories separate required some of the characters to conceal the truth. And to connect the stories, I wanted the historical deceptions to affect the present day. I was drawn to these themes because I thought they had the makings of a good story.

As a solicitor and England and Hong Kong-qualified lawyer, you've spent much of your career uncovering facts and analysing evidence. How has your legal background influenced the way you construct mysteries and plot twists?

Lawyers generally need to be detail-orientated and should be familiar with analysing a sequence of events – Did X cause Y? What if Z were to intervene? I think that helped me to construct some of the plotlines.

The story begins with a body being discovered in a gym. Was there a particular real-life event, observation, or "what if?" moment that sparked the idea for the book?

No! Nothing of any significance in the book was based on a real-life event or conscious observation. It all just emerged from my imagination – and one imagined event inspired me to invent the next!

Josh Stern balances two very different careers as a personal trainer and private investigator. What challenges and opportunities did this dual identity create when developing the story?

I initially thought it unlikely that one person would be a personal trainer and a private investigator. The first career seemed to suit a younger character and the second career, an older one. So, the challenge was to be able to create a character who might credibly do both. The mix of the two careers (and the worlds they occupy) gave me the opportunity to take the world of a personal trainer and create an event which would fall into the world of a private investigator, a mysterious death.

You have previously written short stories and articles. How different was the experience of writing your first novel, and what surprised you most about the process?

For me the main difference (and challenge) was coming up with a story which I could sustain over the 80,000 plus words of a novel. The most surprising thing (although it probably shouldn’t have been surprising) was how difficult it was – particularly, a crime/mystery book where you need to lay clues for future events. That often involved coming up with a plot twist later in the story and then having to rewrite earlier pages to signpost it.

Many aspiring writers struggle to find time to write alongside demanding careers. What does your writing routine look like, and how did you fit novel-writing around your legal work and other commitments?

The writing routine was a challenge! I try to write in the early evening (between work and dinner) and at weekends or when I am on holiday. At least, that is the ambition! I think that if you have a limited amount of time to write, it is essential that you create fixed periods to write even when you are not feeling inspired. Just writing something will often feed the inspiration – and avoids the temptation to put it off.

Now that A Death In The Gym is published, what would you like readers to take away from the book, and can we expect to see more adventures featuring Josh Stern in the future?

My main hope is that readers found the book entertaining and worth the time they spent with it. There are various plotlines which have been deliberately left open – so if there’s the demand, I would definitely like to create more stories.

Patrick Hardy was born in Bournemouth, Dorset and studied law at UCL. 

He qualified as a solicitor in England and in Hong Kong and as an advocate in Guernsey. 

He is also a certified personal trainer. 

Although he has written several short stories and articles, A Death In The Gym is his first novel which draws upon his experience of the world of law and fitness.

 

https://www.instagram.com/pat_rick1997/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575409722943

The Carrier by Ruth Newton #thecarrier @ruth.e.newton @bantambooksuk @randomthingstours #bookreview #speculativefiction #dystopia

 

Why should you suffer when she can do it for you?

A revolutionary company can free you from your unwanted emotions. Jealousy, grief, despair. If you can afford to, you need never feel them again.

In your place is a Carrier – a woman who is paid to process your pain. In a world full of suffering, there is no shortage of demand.

But this company has secrets. The true cost of your freedom is a Carrier’s life.

Would you let her pay the price?

The Carrier by Ruth Newton was published on 2 July 2026 by Bantam/Transworld. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Virtual Book Tour 

As someone who is always drawn to speculative and dystopian fiction, particularly stories written by female authors, Carrier by Ruth Newton was always going to catch my attention. Happily, it more than lived up to my expectations. Clever, unsettling and so impossible to put down, this is the kind of novel that is so entertaining but also asks some deeply uncomfortable questions about the world we live in.

The premise is brilliant. Eudaimonia offers a service that allows people to rid themselves of unwanted emotions. Grief, jealousy, fear and despair can all be transferred to a Carrier, a woman paid to process someone else's pain. It is a fascinating concept that feels just close enough to our reality these days to be frighteningly chilling. As the story unfolds, the cracks in this seemingly perfect system begin to appear, revealing the human cost hidden beneath the company's polished image.

Viv is a fantastic central character. She believes wholeheartedly in Eudaimonia and the work she does as an Emotional Transporter. Her loyalty and conviction make so compelling as events force her to question everything she has accepted as truth. Watching her struggle with her conscience kept me completely engrossed in the story. Alongside Viv, the voices of the Carriers themselves add some real emotional depth. 

Ruth Newton has created a world that feels frighteningly believable. The science is explained in a way that is easy to follow without bogging down the pace of the book, and the themes of emotional labour, inequality, corporate power and the exploitation of women are woven so well into the narrative. Rather than feeling preachy, these ideas emerge naturally through the characters and the story itself. It's very powerful and cleverly done. 

The short chapters kept me turning the pages, and there was a constant sense of tension as Viv uncovered more about the organisation she had once trusted. It is one of those books that leaves you thinking long after you have closed the final page, I thought about how much our emotions shape us and whether they should ever be treated as something to simply hand over to someone else.

Carrier is an outstanding debut that mixes a really clever concept with fabulous characters and themes that really made me think. It is a gripping, intelligent dystopian thriller that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys speculative fiction, especially novels that explore women's lives. I cannot wait to see what Ruth Newton writes next. Highly recommended. 

Ruth Newton is a writer and campaign producer, working with charities and NGOs.

The Carrier, her debut novel, was longlisted for BPA's first novel award, shortlisted for Hodderscape x The Science Museum's Debut Science Fiction award and won the Jericho Writers’ Friday Night Live competition.

She lives in the North East with her husband and son.

The Killer's Mark by W M Craven #thekillersmark @m.w.craven @mwcravenuk @littlebrowngroup_uk #WashingtonPoe #PoeandTilly #Bookreview

 

A MONSTER. A MOTHER. A MURDER?

When Vice Admiral Boyer, RN (retd) died without leaving a will, his estranged daughter inherited his - not inconsiderable - estate. Called home to sort through his belongings, she found an AegisBox - a tamper proof safe within a safe designed to self-destruct if anyone without the code attempts to open it. Unable to walk away without the truth, she uncovered something so horrifying it launched the biggest investigation in the National Crime Agency's history. Five years later, Washington Poe is unwittingly, and unwillingly, sucked into its gravity...

Finally able to escape the authority they railed against, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are enjoying their new jobs as private detectives or - as the sign on their door says - 'Gumshoes for Hire'. When a teenage girl walks into their office, looking for the mother she long believed to be dead, they agree to take the case. As Poe and Tilly investigate the girl's claims, they find themselves drawn into a murky world of trafficking, pornography and prostitution. Will they be able to help the girl find her mother, or will the dark forces at work, who will stop at nothing to protect themselves, get there first...

The Killer's Mark by M W Craven is published on 13 August 2026 by Constable and is book eight in the Washington Poe series. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.

There is an army of Poe and Tilly fans out here who eagerly wait for the next book in this series. I am a loyal foot soldier in that army. Every summer we are treated to another episode,  and every summer we wonder just what the author has in store for his characters and for us. 

The Killer's Mark finds Washington Poe and his colleague Tilly Bradshaw heading up their own private investigation business, or as it states on their sign;  'gumshoes for hire'.

Both Poe and Tilly have changed over the years; they are now able to be their own boss, although Tilly is still contracted to do some very high profile, and confidential work for MI5. Whilst Poe still owns his isolated cottage on the moors, he now lives in his new wife Estelle's ancestral stately home - with a butler! What hasn't changed at all is their relationship and it is as warm and as darkly funny as ever, in fact I laughed out loud more times than I can remember! 

Poe is affected by events from past books, his vulnerabilities do show through and he's loathe to take on new cases. He'll find every excuse to turn away a client. including the fact that he thinks that they look like Ken Dodd (IYKYK)! 

And then, from the moment fifteen-year-old Esmeree Blue appears on Poe and Tilly's doorstep, it's obvious that this isn't going to be an ordinary case. Clutching a wallet and armed with plenty of attitude, she confidently hands over £90 and asks them to find her missing mother, Oceane Blue.

It's an unusual request, and one that immediately captures Poe's attention. Esmeree is a fabulous character; sharp, determined and she is impossible to ignore. However, what initially looks like a straightforward missing persons investigation soon takes an unexpected turn. Before long, Poe and Tilly are drawn into something much darker and far more dangerous than either of them could have imagined.

As the mystery deepens, the tension builds beautifully, with twists and surprises around every corner. Finding Oceane is only part of the challenge; staying one step ahead of the danger that surrounds them may prove to be the biggest test of all.

One of the many reasons why I love this series so much is the author's ability to balance the darker aspects of the story with perfectly judged humour. Just when the tension threatens to become overwhelming, there's a witty exchange or a moment of banter that reminds you why these characters are so special.

Poe and Tilly remain one of crime fiction's most fabulous partnerships, they're an absolute joy to spend time with. Theres is also an impressive supporting cast, and it's always a pleasure to see familiar faces reappear. They add real depth and warmth to the novels, making each new instalment feel like catching up with old friends.

However, don't be fooled into thinking this is an easy read! Underneath that humour lies a dark, gripping and often unsettling story. The investigation is packed with twists, mounting tension and real danger, while tackling some difficult subjects, including abuse, organised crime, trafficking and murder. It's compelling, thought-provoking and, at times, impossible to put down.

Brava Craven, you did it again! Highly recommended. 

Multi-award-winning author M.W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle.

He joined the army at sixteen, leaving ten years later to complete a social work degree. Seventeen years after taking up a probation officer role in Cumbria, at the rank of assistant chief officer, he became a full-time author. 

He is an instant Sunday Times bestseller and, for his Cumbria-set Washington Poe series, a recipient of the 2019 Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger, the 2022 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2023. The series has now been translated into twenty-seven languages

Instagram: @m.w.craven

Twitter :@mwcravenuk

Facebook: MikeCravenAuthor