The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen BLOG TOUR @antti_tuomainen @OrendaBooks T.@countertenorist #TheRabbitFactor #Giveaway #Win #Prize #Competition

 

What makes life perfect? Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen knows the answer because he calculates everything down to the very last decimal.

And then, for the first time, Henri is faced with the incalculable. After suddenly losing his job, Henri inherits an adventure park from his brother – its peculiar employees and troubling financial problems included. The worst of the financial issues appear to originate from big loans taken from criminal quarters … and some dangerous men are very keen to get their money back.

But what Henri really can’t compute is love. In the adventure park, Henri crosses paths with Laura, an artist with a chequered past, and a joie de vivre and erratic lifestyle that bewilders him. As the criminals go to extreme lengths to collect their debts and as Henri's relationship with Laura deepens, he finds himself faced with situations and emotions that simply cannot be pinned down on his spreadsheets…

Warmly funny, rich with quirky characters and absurd situations, The Rabbit Factor is a triumph of a dark thriller, its tension matched only by its ability to make us rejoice in the beauty and random nature of life.

The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen is published today, 28 October 2021 in hardback by Orenda Books, and was translated by David Hackston. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review, I will be posting my review in a couple of weeks.

Today I have one copy to giveaway to one reader. Entry is simple, just fill out the competition widget on this post. UK entries only please. 

GOOD LUCK! 

One print copy of The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen

Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author in 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. 

With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. A TV adaptation is in the works, and Jussi Vatanen (Man In Room 301) has just been announced as a leading role. 

Palm Beach Finland was an immense success, with Marcel Berlins (The Times) calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’. 

His latest thriller, Little Siberia, was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger, the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Awards and the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. In total, Antti Tuomainen has been short- and longlisted for 12 UK awards. 

Twitter @antti_tuomainen

Cold As Hell by Lilja Sigurðardóttir BLOG TOUR @lilja1972 @OrendaBooks T.@graskeggur #ColdAsHell #AnÁroraInvestigation #BookReview #IcelandNoir

 

Icelandic sisters Áróra and Ísafold live in different countries and aren‘t on speaking terms, but when their mother loses contact with Ísafold, Áróra reluctantly returns to Iceland to find her sister. But she soon realizes that her sister isn’t avoiding her … she has disappeared, without trace. 

As she confronts Ísafold’s abusive, drug-dealing boyfriend Björn, and begins to probe her sister’s reclusive neighbours – who have their own reasons for staying out of sight – Áróra is led into an ever-darker web of intrigue and manipulation. 

Baffled by the conflicting details of her sister’s life, and blinded by the shiveringly bright midnight sun of the Icelandic summer, Áróra enlists the help of police officer Daníel, as she tries to track her sister’s movements, and begins to tail Björn – but she isn’t the only one watching…

Slick, tense, atmospheric and superbly plotted, Cold as Hell marks the start of a riveting, addictive new series from one of Iceland’s bestselling crime writers.

Cold As Hell by Lilja Sigurðardóttir is published in paperback by Orenda Books on 28 October 2021 and is translated by Quentin Bates.  My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

It is always such a joy to begin a new book from a favourite author, and when that book is the start of a whole new series, it's even better. Cold As Hell is book one in the Áróra Investigation series and it's an absolute belter of a read. I am so excited about this new series.

Áróra and Ísafold are sisters, they are of mixed heritage, their mother is English and their father is from Iceland. Áróra lives in Edinburgh and works in financial investigation whilst Ísaford, the eldest, spends most of her time in Iceland. She's been in a relationship with Bjorn for quite a while now but Áróra has had to rescue her from his fists on more than one occasion in the past. 

When their mother calls to say that she's not heard from Ísaford for over two weeks, Áróra reluctantly agrees to fly to Iceland once more to see what has happened this time. The sisters have always had a fractious relationship, differing not only in appearance but also in temperament. In fact, Ísaford blocked Áróra on Facebook some time ago. 

What follows is a complex but thrilling tale that combines the missing person mystery with up-to-date relevant social issues. There's a cast of characters who range from the man who is repulsed by his own hair to the elderly lady who is trying to recapture motherhood, and they all have a link to Ísaford. However, none of them are willing to give away any information willingly and this clever author keeps her readers guessing and anticipating with every page. 

Told in short snappy chapters, along with snippets from the past, Cold As Hell is a book that screams Icelandic / Nordic Noir. Brilliantly translated by Quentin Bates, there's such a feel of Iceland about this one, from the sulphur smelling water that streams from the shower, to the dependency on the strongest coffee to get through the day, it's so authentic. 

Whilst Iceland may only be a small country, it certainly has an interesting recent history, especially around financial crime and fraud and Áróra's career in financial investigation is a fascinating way to explain this, like most crime though, there are links to other things and these are slowly uncovered as the story develops. 

Lilja Sigurdardóttir excels in character creation, especially strong female leads and Áróra is tremendous. She is quite enigmatic, not always pleasant, very focussed, but with a vulnerability that she does her best to hide. It is the little hints of her softer character that really endeared her to me, she's one of those people who have so much more to give and I think we readers are in for great things from this series. 

I loved this one, it could be my favourite from this author yet.  Highly recommended. 

Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. 

An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written four crime novels, with Snare, her English debut shortlisting for the CWA International Dagger and hitting bestseller lists worldwide. Trap soon followed suit, with the third in the trilogy Cage winning the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year, and was a Guardian Book of the Year. 

Lilja’s standalone Betrayal, was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel. The film rights have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. 

Lilja is also an award-winning screenwriter in her native Iceland. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.

www.liljawriter.com

Twitter @lilja1972

Instagram @sigurdardottirlilja

The Leftovers by Cassandra Parkin BLOG TOUR @cassandrajaneuk @Legend_Times_ #TheLeftovers #BookReview

 

Callie’s life is spent caring for others – for Frey, her client, and for Noah, her brother. 

When a tragic car accident shatters her family, she’s left alone with her mother Vanessa. 

Vanessa's favourite child was Noah; Callie's favourite parent was her dad. Now they're stuck with each other - the leftovers of their family - and they'll have to confront the ways they've been hurt, and the ways they've passed that hurt on to others.

The Leftovers by Cassandra Parkin was published by Legend Press on 1 October 2021. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

I was left reeling by the absolute power of this novel. I finished it a few days ago yet the characters still linger in my head. They are the sort of characters that one wants to question, to interrogate and to ask more of. The perfect characters, in the perfect story. 

I've been reading Cassandra Parkin's novels for a long time now and have always admired her style. She's poetic, yet compulsive. She takes some of the darkest issues in society and weaves them so beautifully to create the most powerful, sometimes disturbing stories. I think The Leftovers is her darkest, yet most brilliant novel to date. 

Callie has always been a carer. Even though her brother Noah is older than her, she's spent much of her life protecting him. Noah has to be protected from his own world and his own mind. Callie and Noah's parents split up when they were younger and they both live with their Dad whilst their Mother lives in a cottage overlooking the sea, on her own. 

Callie is also a carer in her professional life. Previously a nurse in A&E, she's been working as a private carer for the last year or so. Two weeks on, two weeks off. She and her fellow carer Josh care for Frey. Frey is non-verbal, intelligent and gentle. His family love him, but cannot care for him. They have the money to ensure that Frey has everything that he needs. 

Callie and her mother have a toxic relationship, and she always loved her Dad far more. Noah and their mother adored each other.  When a terrible accident happens, Callie and her mother are the only ones left .... the leftovers. Trying to make sense of what happened and what is to come. 

The reader sees this story only through the eyes of Callie and she appears to be very authentic, we believe her, she cares about people and she's hurting. However, as the narrative moves on, one begins to wonder about Callie's reliability. It's clear that she's a damaged woman, but we are never quite sure why, although Callie will insist it's because of the way that her mother treated her.

There's a darkness in this story that could become uncomfortable but the brilliance of the author's gentle and sensitive writing adds such a layer of empathy that the reader is compelled to find out more. I'm not sure that we do actually find out the truth here though.  Callie certainly begins to recognise parts of her behaviour that could be damaging, but what she eventually does about that is left to the reader to imagine. 

A very difficult book to talk about without going into detail that would spoil it for potential readers, but it's a really stunning piece of writing, nuanced, comfortable at times but incredibly powerful. Highly recommended. 

Cassandra Parkin grew up in Hull, and now lives in East Yorkshire. 

Her short story collection, New
World Fairy Tales (Salt Publishing, 2011), won the 2011 Scott Prize for Short Stories.

Twitter: @cassandrajaneuk

Instagram: @cassandraparkinwrites

The Girl In The Maze by Cathy Hayward BLOG TOUR @CathyHayward7 #TheGirlInTheMaze @AgoraBooksLDN #BookReview

 

Emma Bowen has never had a close relationship with her mother, barely speaking with her in the last years of her life. But after her mother’s death, Emma finds something that might just explain the distance between them.

Discovering letters between her mother and grandmother, it seems to Emma that her mother has always been difficult.

As she searches for answers about her own childhood, Emma is drawn into the mystery of her mother’s enigmatic life. The more she finds, the more lost she feels, but Emma is determined to uncover her mother's past, and the secrets held within it, whatever the cost.

An enthralling story of three women, generations apart, linked by one terrible tragedy.

The Girl In The Maze by Cathy Hayward is published on 28 October 2021 by Agora Books.

My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour.

This really is an extraordinary novel. It's so beautifully written, with a bravery that is admirable for a debut novelist. The opening pages are shocking, brutal and hard hitting. Dealing with such an emotive and sensitive subject right from the outset must have been a hard decision to make, but it's one that certainly pays off. 

This is the story of three women, told in two voices. Betty, the character from the beginning of the book, her daughter Margaret and then Margaret's own daughter Emma. The reader only gets the actual voices of Betty and Emma, with Margaret's story being outlined as Emma discovers more about her recently deceased mother. 

Emma and Margaret's relationship had been almost non-existent in the years before Margaret's death. As an only child, it is left to Emma to clear her mother's house, and deal with the instructions in her will. She's helped by Margaret's solicitor Graham Eels, who it transpires was also a long-time friend to Margaret, and knows far more about her past than Emma could ever have imagined. Graham cautions Emma against 'delving into the past', but she becomes determined to find out just why her mother behaved as she did. 

This is a story that deals with some of the darkest and emotionally challenging topics that a woman can face, and is ultimately a story about the mother/daughter relationship, with all of its difficulties and complexities that often happen. Whilst Emma is settled in a happy marriage with three much loved children, her past relationships and those of her mother and grandmother have had a lasting effect on her. 

A story told with great authority, written with an apparent ease by a very talented author, The Girl in the Maze will stay with me for a very long time. Be prepared to feel the pain of the characters, experience the utter despair when they find themselves in circumstances that feel unbearable and be totally moved by the expertise of the writing. Highly recommended by me. 

Cathy Hayward trained as a journalist and edited a variety of trade publications, several of which
were so niche they were featured on Have I Got News for You. She then moved into the world of PR and set up an award-winning communications agency. Devastated and inspired in equal measure by the death of her parents in quick succession, Cathy completed The Creative Writing Programme with New Writing South out of which emerged her debut novel The Girl in the Maze about the experience of mothering and being mothered. It won Agora Books’ Lost the Plot Work in Progress Prize 2020 and was longlisted for the Grindstone Literary Prize 2020.

When she’s not writing (or reading) in her local library, Cathy loves pottering in second-hand bookshops, hiking and wild camping. She lives in Brighton – sandwiched between the Downs and the sea –  with her husband, three children, and two rescue cats – one of whom thinks he’s a dog. 

www.cathyhayward.co.uk

Twitter @CathyHayward7

Instagram @cathy_hayward_writer

The Room In The Attic by Louise Douglas BLOG TOUR @LouiseDouglas3 @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #TheRoomInTheAttic

 

A child who does not know her name…

In 1903 fishermen find a wrecked boat containing a woman, who has been badly beaten, and a young girl. An ambulance is sent for, and the two survivors are taken to All Hallows, the imposing asylum, hidden deep on Dartmoor. The woman remains in a coma, but the little girl, Harriet, awakens and is taken to an attic room, far away from the noise of the asylum, and is put in the care of Nurse Emma Everdeen.

Two motherless boys banished to boarding school…

In 1993, All Hallows is now a boarding school. Following his mother’s death and his father’s hasty remarriage, Lewis Tyler is banished to Dartmoor, stripped of his fashionable clothes, shorn of his long hair, and left feeling more alone than ever. There he meets Isak, another lost soul, and whilst refurbishment of the dormitories is taking place, the boys are marooned up in the attic, in an old wing of the school.

Cries and calls from the past that can no longer be ignored…

All Hallows is a building full of memories, whispers, cries from the past. As Lewis and Isak learn more about the fate of Harriet, and Nurse Emma’s desperate fight to keep the little girl safe, it soon becomes clear there are ghosts who are still restless.

Are they ghosts the boys hear at night in the room above, are they the unquiet souls from the asylum still caught between the walls? And can Lewis and Isak bring peace to All Hallows before the past breaks them first…

The Room in the Attic by Louise Douglas was published on 12 October 2021 by Boldwood Books. It was my intention to read and review the book for this Blog Tour, organised by Rachel's Random Resources today but my book has not yet arrived.

I'm sharing an extract from the book to whet your appetite and I will share my review just as soon as I've read the book.

Extract from The Room in the Attic by Louise Douglas

One

Lewis – September 2021

The night before I returned to All Hallows I dreamed I was walking barefoot along the attic corridor. As I passed the fourth door, I became aware of little fires burning in that dark room: on the rug, in the curtains and a dozen other places. I began to run, but the further I ran, the further the corridor stretched ahead of me and the more the fires burned, and I knew that I would never reach the end. There was no escape.

My wife woke me; a hand on my shoulder. ‘Lewis! Wake up! You’re having one of your nightmares.’

It took me a moment to bring myself back to the present: to our warm, untidy bedroom, pillows, a duvet; a wine glass on the bedside table; the dog snoring on his rug in the window bay. The room was dark, the city beyond still sleeping.

‘Sorry,’ I whispered. ‘Sorry to wake you,’ and I kissed my wife’s hand and slid out of bed and went downstairs to drink a glass of water in the kitchen.

It was 4 a.m. The dying hour. I sat at the table, moved aside our youngest son’s homework, and picked up the auction house catalogue that I’d left lying face-down on the table next to the fruit bowl.

I turned it over. The cover headline read: ‘Rare Redevelopment Opportunity’. Beneath it, the picture of a derelict building was captioned: ‘All Hallows. Grade II listed Victorian asylum/boarding school, outbuildings, 50 acres of walled grounds. Prime countryside location.’

There it was, in full colour: the same long, forbidding building with the bell tower at its centre that I revisited in my nightmares. If I looked hard enough, I could almost see through the windows to the pupils sitting at their desks in the classrooms: those ranks of boys in their brown sweaters and trousers, with identical close-shaven haircuts. I could almost smell the dust burning in the elbows of the big old radiators, hear the relentless ticking of the clocks on the walls. And there, outside, were young boys with their bony knees and striped socks, shivering as they grouped on the rugby field; the padded bumpers used to practise tackles laid out on the grass; the swagger of the sports master with his great, muscly thighs. ‘Three Rolls’, we used to call him because he walked as if he was carrying three rolls of wallpaper under each arm.

The auction had taken place a fortnight earlier, the building sold to clients of the firm of architects for whom I worked. If they’d asked my advice before the sale, I’d have told them not to buy it, but by the time the catalogue reached my desk, the paperwork had been signed, the deal was done.

I dropped my head into my hands.

I did not want to have to return to All Hallows. What I wanted was to speak to Isak, to hear his voice, and be rallied out of my anxiety by his dry humour. I picked up my phone and was on the point of calling him, but then I heard my mother whisper in my ear: Lewis, don’t. It’s not fair to disturb him, not at this hour!

I put down the phone, grabbed my coat and went into the garden to wait for the sunrise.

Louise Douglas is the bestselling and brilliantly reviewed author of 6 novels including The Love of my Life and Missing You – a RNA award winner. 

The Secrets Between Us was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. 

She lives in the West Country. 

Louise’s first book for Boldwood, The House by the Sea was published in March 2020.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Louise-Douglas-Author-340228039335215

Twitter https://twitter.com/louisedouglas3 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/LouiseDouglas3

Newsletter Sign Up Link https://mailchi.mp/boldwoodbooks/hfpo47db7v 

Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/louise-douglas 

A Woman Made of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford BLOG TOUR @elisabeth04liz @CorvusBooks #AWomanMadeOfSnow @RandomTTours #BookReview

 

Scotland, 1949: Caroline Gillan and her new husband Alasdair have moved back to Kelly Castle, his dilapidated family estate in the middle of nowhere. Stuck caring for their tiny baby, and trying to find her way with an opinionated mother-in-law, Caroline feels adrift, alone and unwelcome.

But when she is tasked with sorting out the family archives, Caroline discovers a century-old mystery that sparks her back to life. There is one Gillan bride who is completely unknown - no photos exist, no records have been kept - the only thing that is certain is that she had a legitimate child. Alasdair's grandmother.

As Caroline uncovers a strange story that stretches as far as the Arctic circle, her desire to find the truth turns obsessive. And when a body is found in the grounds of the castle, her hunt becomes more than just a case of curiosity. What happened all those years ago? Who was the bride? And who is the body...?

A Woman Made Of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford was published by Corvus on 7 October 2021. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour. 

I have been reading Elisabeth Gifford's novels for almost ten years now and have reviewed all four of her previous books on Random Things. She is a wonderful talent and I always look forward to a new book from her.

Here is an author who gets better and better, I have loved all of her books but this one, in my opinion, is her very best yet. I was utterly captivated by the story and particularly enjoyed learning about the whale boats of Scotland and the inclusion of the Inuit people. It is a triumph, so beautiful and at times so very heart breaking, there's one particular part that brought tears to my eyes. It is haunting and lyrical and steeped in history. 

In 1949, Caro and Alisdair are living at his family home; Kelly Castle. The Castle is old and run down, rurally isolated and not at all what the young couple had planned. The arrival of their baby daughter, so soon after their marriage changed their plans for high flying careers and whilst Alisdair is employed locally, Caro's dreams of obtaining a job in academic research have been put on hold. She also has to endure the well-meaning, but frustrating interference from her mother in law. 

There's a mystery in the family. There's no records to say who Alisdair's great-grandmother was. The records seem to have been wiped clean, all the family know is that she disappeared, leaving her small daughter behind. When Caro takes on the task of sorting through the family archives, she feels like she has a purpose again, and can use her brain.  After a bad storm, the remains of a body are found buried under a tree in the Castle grounds; is this the mystery woman?  Caro is determined to find out. 

The author then takes her reader back to the late 1880s and we meet Charlotte and Louisa, two young women who spend their holidays at Kelly Castle, then owned by their aunt - a woman who is not very welcoming to the two girls.  

This is a wonderfully written, sweeping story that is a love story, as well as a years-old mystery and as the reader travels from Scotland, to the Arctic, on a whaling boat crewed by hardened men, the mysteries deepen. 

Elisabeth Gifford excels in creating characters and places that spring to life, be it the harsh conditions upon the ship, or the coldness of a stone castle in the wilds of Scotland, the reader is there, truly experiencing just what the characters see and do. The transition back and forth between the two eras is seamlessly done and the two time lines are woven together cleverly and expertly. 

It's a fascinating look at class and family relationships too, the horrendous snobbery and dreadful treatment of some of the characters is utterly heartbreaking at times and left me feeling more than a little upset. The author doesn't hold back, there is no sugar coating here and the at times it is harsh and unrelenting, but it is always beautiful and sympathetically done. 

A wonderful story that I recommend highly. 

Elisabeth Gifford grew up in a vicarage in the industrial Midlands. 

She studied French literature and world religions at Leeds University. She has a Diploma in Creative Writing from Oxford OUDCE and an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway. 

She is married with three children, and lives in Kingston upon Thames. 

A Woman Made of Snow is her fifth novel. 

www.elisabethgifford.com

Twitter @elisabeth04liz

The Hiding Place by Amanda Mason BLOG TOUR #TheHidingPlace @amandajanemason @ZaffreBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #BookReview

 

Nell Galilee, her husband and twelve year old step-daughter Maude rent a holiday cottage by the sea, needing time and space away from home. Nell grew up in this small, wind-blown town and has mixed feelings about returning, and it isn't long before she is recognised by a neighbour, seemingly desperate to befriend her. The cottage has been empty for some time, and from the start Nell feels uncomfortable there. Something isn't quite right about this place . . .

Maude, furious about being brought here against her will, soon finds herself beguiled by the house's strange atmosphere. There are peculiar marks in the roof beams above her bedroom, and in another room, a hiding place, concealing a strange, unnerving object.

As the house gradually reveals its secrets, Nell becomes increasingly uneasy - and Maude spellbound. But these women - and the women that surround them - are harbouring their own secrets too, and soon events will come to a terrible head . . .

The Hiding Place by Amanda Mason was published on 14 October 2021 by Zaffre. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review, for this Blog Tour organised by Tracy from Compulsive Readers. 

I'm not usually a seasonal reader but have found myself consuming quite a few ghostly tales this October. Amanda Mason has set The Hiding Place in that ultimate of gothic seaside towns; Whitby, on the North Yorkshire coast. I adore Whitby and have spent some wonderful breaks there, it has that eerie feeling about it with the Abbey overlooking everyone and everything. 

Nell Galilee was brought up in Whitby but hasn't been back since her father died around seven years ago. She and her husband Chris are having problems with his twelve-year-old daughter Maude who lives with them. Nell and Maude used to get on well, but lately, and especially since Maude's mother produced a new baby, their relationship has gone downhill.  When the invitation to a family party in Whitby arrived, they decided to use the opportunity to have a family break, despite Nell's feelings about her hometown. The family have booked Elder House; an imposing holiday let that sits in Bishops Yard, nestled against the cliff beneath Whitby Abbey. 

There's something about Elder House that spooks Nell straight away. There's that smell, the dim lighting, the overpowering cliff edge that blocks out the view. Strange noises and a feeling that they are not alone in the house. Gradually, Nell's unease begins to affect Chris and Maude too and what was supposed to be a healing family break becomes a battle of wills, and a constant stream of mysterious events. 

The author cleverly and meticulously ties in local legend and folk lore, giving this contemporary story a historic feel. There's talk of witches and spells and curses, the discovery of old shoes and broken mirrors that leave a chill down the spine. 

However, this is not just a ghostly story, it's also one of long held grudges and hidden secrets. There are truths to be discovered about all of the characters and the author has skilfully created a cast who are realistic and lifelike. 

Dark and brooding, atmospheric and chilling, The Hiding Place is the perfect autumn read. Close the curtains though and make sure you are not alone in the house when you read this one!

Amanda Mason was born and brought up in Whitby, North Yorkshire. 

She studied Theatre at Dartington College of Arts, where she began writing by devising and directing plays. 

Her short stories have been published in several anthologies. 

Her debut novel, The Wayward Girls, a dark and captivating story of sisterhood and family secrets, was published in 2019, and her second, The Hiding Place, was published in October 2021, both from Bonnier Zaffre.

Twitter @amandajanemason

The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis #BronteMysteries @brontemysteries #Giveaway #Win #Prize #Competition #TheDiabolicalBones

 

It's Christmas 1845 and Haworth is in the grip of a freezing winter. Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë are rather losing interest in detecting until they hear of a shocking discovery: the bones of a child have been found interred within the walls of a local house, Top Withens Hall, home to the scandalous and brutish Bradshaw family.

When the sisters set off to find out more, they are confronted with an increasingly complex and sinister case, which leads them into the dark world of orphanages, and onto the trail of other lost, and likely murdered children. After another local boy goes missing, Charlotte, Emily and Anne vow to find him before it's too late.

But in order to do so, they must face their most despicable and wicked adversary yet - one that would not hesitate to cause them the gravest of harm. . .

The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis is the second book in the Bronte Mysteries series and was published in paperback by Hodder on 30 September.

I read and reviewed this one for the hardback publication - find my review of The Diabolical Bones here 

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to see the author at an event and hear her talk about the series. I have one signed copy of the book to give away today. 

Entry is simple, just fill out the competition widget below. UK entries only please. 

Good Luck! 

One signed copy of The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis

Bella Ellis is the Brontë inspired pen name for the award winning, Sunday Times bestselling author Rowan Coleman. 

A Brontë devotee for most of her life, Rowan is the author of fourteen novels including The Memory Book , The Summer of Impossible Things and The Girl at the Window, as well as the co-author of Mirror, Mirror, the debut novel by actor and model Cara Delevingne. 

Bella Ellis lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and five children.

Twitter @brontemysteries