Other People's Fun by Harriet Lane #OtherPeoplesFun @HarrietLane_ @wnbooks @harrietlane.bsky.social @wnbooks.bsky.social #BookReview

 

'I look. I can't stop looking. That's the deal, isn't it? We all know that's how it works. If someone wants to be seen - and oh, how they want to be seen - then someone has to watch.'

Ruth is alone, unnoticed and at a loss: her marriage has ended, her daughter is leaving home and her job is leading nowhere.

But luckily Sookie is back in her life - vivid, self-assured Sookie, who never spared the time for Ruth when they were teenagers, but who now seems to want to be friends. What could possibly go wrong?

As Ruth is caught up in Sookie's life, she sees that everything is not as simple and Instagrammable as Sookie would have you believe. But what has that got to do with Ruth, and what can she do about it?

Unputdownable, funny, spiky and subtle, Other People's Fun is a novel about modern life and the lies we tell our neighbours, friends, families and selves through the hall of mirrors that is social media. Filled with Harriet Lane's trademark creeping unease and forensic observation, this marks the long-awaited return of the mistress of literary suspense.

Other People's Fun by Harriet Lane is published on 30 October 2025 by W&N. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

I was absolutely delighted when I discovered that Harriet Lane had written a new book. Her first two novels; Alys Always (2012)  and Her (2014) are two of my all time favourite books. I was convinced that we wouldn't get another story from her, but here we are, over ten years later and I am thrilled to say that Other People's Fun is excellent.  The author delivers something that is both familiar and uneasy: a novel that asks quietly discomforting questions about who we are, how we present ourselves, and what we believe about the people we think we know.

Ruth is at a point in life when things feel unsteady: her marriage has ended, her daughter is leaving home, and work isn’t giving her much satisfaction. The novel opens as she attends a school reunion and Sookie re-enters her life. Sookie, was one of those people in school who seemed to have everything, but who never made much effort with Ruth back then. Sookie is vibrant, sure of herself, and seems, in many ways, enviable. 

But as the story progresses, what looks like glamour begins to seem more fragile, more constructed. The life Sookie shows Ruth, and the rest of the world has huge gaps. As Ruth becomes drawn into Sookie’s world, the lies, the omissions, the performance of a life lived to the full start to peel away.

The author's strength here is the creeping tension. The book is not in your face dramatic but quietly so with a creeping tension.  The reader feels that something is not quite right, it is unsettling and so satisfying to read. 

The character creation is fine and precise. Ruth is well drawn, she is sympathetic, flawed, someone you want to suceed. . Sookie’s charisma is intoxicating, and the contrast between what Sookie shows and what she hides in a way that feels believable. 

Other People’s Fun is, in so many ways, what this author does best: incisive prose, morally ambiguous characters, and a sense that ordinary life has its own kind of horror. It’s not a comforting read, but it’s a compelling and worthy one. It made me think about how easily we can slide into comparing ourselves, how fragile our façades are, and how often we see others as more complete, more enviable, than we feel we are ourselves 

Sharp, well observed and darkly witty, this is a fabulous read. Highly recommended. 

Harriet Lane has worked as an editor and staff writer at Tatler and the Observer. 

She has also written for the Guardian, Vogue and the New York Times. 

She is the author of two other novels, Alys, Always and Her. 

She lives in North London.

www.harrietlane.co.uk

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BlueSky @harrietlane.bsky.social

Being Carlos Alcaraz by Mark Hodgkinson #BeingCarlosAlcaraz @thetennisspace @Octopus_Books @carlosalcaraz @RandomTTours #BookReview

 

A deeply researched biography of the new (smiley) face of tennis. A global star who has achieved more than Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer did by this stage of their careers. At just 19 years old, Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open and became the youngest ever men's world number one. At only 21, he already had four Grand Slam titles.

For Alcaraz, everything - from his charm to his star power to his tennis mojo - starts with a smile. But there is a more complex character behind the smile. One who grew up in modest circumstances in a small village in Murcia in southern Spain. A man with strong family traditions who has a tattoo of his grandfather's favourite saying - 'cabeza, corazon y cojones' (brain, heart and balls) - inked on his left wrist.

Mark Hodgkinson talks to those who know Alcaraz best - including his coaches, old teachers and competitors - to provide a fascinating insight into a showman with ambitions of becoming the GOAT, the greatest of all time.

Being Carlos Alcaraz by Mark Hodgkinson was published on 4 September 2025 by Cassell / Octopus. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

I do not play tennis, but I am a huge fan of watching Wimbledon on the TV, it's really the only sport that I love to watch and I'd love to actually sit on Centre Court and watch a match. My parents are not in the. least sporty, it was my Nana who introduced me to the tennis on TV in the 1980s. I'd go round to her house (just around the corner), and we would watch for hours. 

Whilst the 'bad boy' players such as McEnroe and more recently, Nick Kyrgios, are entertaining to watch for a while, I really love the skilled, yet gentlemanly players. Rafa Nadal is my all time favourite and his successor, Carlos Alcaraz has really stolen my heart in recent years. 

In Being Carlos Alcaraz Hodgkinson has produced something that is both readable and respectful, that balances the shine of Carlos Alcaraz’s achievements with the grit behind them.

Carlos Alcaraz is already a superstar, even at a young age—Grand Slams, world number ones, comparisons with legends. Hodgkinson digs into that, yes, but also pulls back to show us the beginnings: a modest childhood in Murcia, family influences, the traditions, the sacrifices. We meet coaches, old teachers, competitors. We see the smile, the charm, but also the complexity: what it takes to keep going, the pressures, the expectations.

Being Carlos is very much worth your time. It doesn’t just celebrate a tennis phenomenon; it humanises him. I closed the final page feeling not only impressed by Alcaraz’s accomplishments, but also warmed by the sense of what drives him: heart, humility, determination (and yes, the smile).

Mark Hodgkinson is known for his compelling biographies of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Serena Williams. His last book - Searching for Novak - was long-listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and described as 'a terrific book' by tennis legend Chris Evert.

A former Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent, he has ghostwritten columns for Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras, and also collaborated on a book with boxer Lawrence Okolie and on a golf project with singer Robbie Williams. Mark worked on two fitness books with Daniel Craig, Tom Hiddleston and their trainer Simon Waterson, one of which became an Amazon bestseller. Additionally, he authored a bestselling book for Naomi Osaka's former coach, Sascha Bajin, and has collaborated with psychologist Charlie Unwin and former Marine Nick Goldsmith. Mark consults for international sports brands in Europe, the United States and Japan.

The Night I Killed Him by Gill Perdue #TheNightIKilledHim @gillperduewrite @PenguinIEBooks @PenguinUKBooks #BookReview

 

The world of beloved influencer, Gemma Fitzgerald, seems ready to implode when the body of her brother, Max – who disappeared 18 years earlier – is washed up on a beach. Everyone thought Max had taken his own life the night of his twenty-first birthday party, but Gemma knows the truth – she is responsible for Max’s disappearance.

With the police bearing down from one side, and her glamorous lifestyle hanging by a thread, it seems the devastating truth is about to destroy Gemma’s life and take her away from her precious little boy.

Gemma has created a dazzling world in trying to forget that fateful night. What if it’s all been a lie?

The Night I Killed Him by Gill Perdue was published on 10 July 2025 by Penguin Ireland / Sandycove. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

I hadn't realised until I had actually finished the book that this is the third in the Shaw & Darmordy series. The author is so skilled at filling in any back story that I had no idea there were previous novels, although I now need to read those too! 

Gemma Fitzgerald is an influencer whose online life looks perfect: with a beautiful house, glamorous photos, a doting husband, and a young son, Ferdia. But eighteen years ago, her brother Max disappeared on the night of his 21st birthday. It was believed that he took his own life. Then his body is discoverd washed up on the shore locally and questions begin: was it suicide after all, or has something far more sinister been hidden, for all this time? 

Detectives Laura Shaw and Niamh Darmody are called in to unravel what really happened. As the truth is clawed out from the past, Gemma’s own secrets threaten to undo the image she has built so carefully.

One of the greatest strengths in this novel is how the setting feels so perfectly real. Dún Laoghaire;  the harbour, the yacht clubs, the darkness of hidden secrets, almost becomes almost a character in its own right. It feels as though it's all gloss and glamour on the surface, with darkness hidden deeper - much like Gemma's life really. 

I've always been a fan of multiple narratives and the reader follows Gemma, and also the two detectives; Laura and Niamh. This enables the reader to see various aspects of the case from different sides which always adds some depth.  Shaw & Darmody are compelling with clear personalities and  believable flaws. Gemma’s guilt is tangible and her relationship with young Ferdia makes the reader back her all of the way. And Gemma’s husband is really well created, if diabolical; his behaviour and his manipulations are emotionally distressing but realistic. 

The Night I Killed Him is a multi layered, intelligent thriller that asks more than just 'who did it? We think about the lies that we build around ourselves, what happens when those lies start to unravel, and whether redemption is possible when guilt has held you in its grip for nearly two decades.

I couldn’t put it down by the end; I cared about Gemma, I wanted to know what Laura & Niamh discovered, and I ended the book with a mix of emotions. Recommended 

Gill Perdue is a writer and dance teacher. She worked as a primary school teacher for fifteen years and published four children's books.
If I Tell, her first novel for adults, was an Irish bestseller and was shortlisted for Crime Novel of the Year at the 2022 Irish Book Awards.
The Night I Killed Him is her third novel 
Gill lives in Dublin 

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The Howling by Michael J Malone #TheHowling @michaeljmalone1 @OrendaBooks #AnnieJacksonMysteries #BookReview

 

Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf. 

One is burned at the stake.

Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.

And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…

Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is back living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion. The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie’s curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.

Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie’s life, and everything she holds dear…

Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…

The Howling by Michael J Malone was published on 11 September 2025 by Orenda Books and is the third book in the Annie Jackson series. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour. 

I am a huge fan of Michael J Malone, I have now read ten of his novels and never tire of his incredible, immersive writing. I read and reviewed the first two Annie Jackson novels on my blog. 

Sometimes a book comes along that lures you in with mood. The Howling is one of those books: it begins in whisper, then the dread creeps up, and before you realise you’re leaning forward, heart in throat, turning pages in half-light.

From its opening, the author masterfully blends folklore with a modern, very human grief. Annie Jackson, our protagonist, is living in retreat by a loch, trying to escape her past — both the painful personal loss and the legacy of a curse she believes has shaped her life. Malone doesn’t rush into horror for horror’s sake: the mundane and the supernatural are interwoven so that one way of seeing the world (the “real”) shades into the uncanny and more peculiar. 

The setting, as in all three of the books in this series,  is beautifully evoked. There’s something in the loch, in the old buildings, in the whisper of old stones and old wrongs, that I found very compelling. The landscape itself feels like a character: cold, secretive, capable of holding generations of hurt. For readers who love a gothic edge, the way he situates this story in this rural space works really well.

Annie Jackson is complex and haunted; she is not always likeable, but she is always believable. Her guilt, grief, desire for redemption — these are tangible, and the author gives them weight. Lewis; her companion in much of the investigation, brings a contrast: he is less tortured, more hopeful in places, but burdened in his own way. Their relationship is not sugarcoated; there are frictions, misunderstandings, loyalties tested.

The Howling is a rich, atmospheric gothic-mystery. It creeps under your skin; it makes you question what is past and what is present, what is inherited and what is chosen. For those who enjoy supernatural thrillers that are more about dread, longing and moral danger than jump scares, this is an excellent addition.

Highly recommended by me. 

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 dark psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and is currently in production for the screen, and five powerful standalone thrillers followed suit. 

The Murmurs and The Torments, first in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series, were published to critical acclaim in 2023. 

A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr, where he also works as a hypnotherapist.

X @michaeljmalone1

Instagram @1michaeljmalone

Male, Unknown by C J Griffiths #MaleUnknown #CJGriffiths @noexitpress @RandomTTours #Book Review

 

EDIE CARTER. FORGIVE ME.

The four words carved into the body of an unidentified patient which bring the repressed childhood trauma of young trainee anaesthetist Edie Carter flooding back.

But what terrible secret does the sedated man fighting for his life in her intensive care unit hold?

And when she finds out, will she still want to save him?

Young doctor Edie Carter is bright, talented and ambitious. She is embarking on her dream career in anaesthetics and is engaged to a man who adores her. The one thing she doesn't have is a childhood. Suffering from traumatic repression, large parts of her past are blank spaces.

When an unidentified patient arrives in her intensive care unit with her name carved on his body, she realises that memories can refuse to stay buried. The man is unknown to Edie, but digging deeper, she discovers that the patient is Samuel Cox, a man imprisoned and brutalised over the last two decades for horrifying crimes he had committed.

As she investigates further, and begins to reveal Cox's motives, Edie realises that even those she trusts have been complicit in deceiving her.

With the lives of those closest to her at risk, is Edie ready for the truth of what happened all those years ago?

And will she do whatever it takes to keep it hidden?

Male, Unknown by C J Griffiths is published today; 11 September 2025 by No Exit Press. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

Male, Unknown is the debut novel from CJ Griffiths. His background is working in the NHS and his knowledge shines through in this tense and twisty thriller. I love the fact that our lead character, Edie, is a anaesthetist, something a little different. 

Edie suffers from traumatic repression and memory loss, there are huge swathes of her past that she does not remember. Although she is doing her dream job and is happily engaged she does struggle with her fragmented past and when a patient is admitted to intensive care with her name carved on his body, those hidden memories begin to surface. 

That patient is Samuel Cox, a brutalised convict and he has connections to Edie's past. As Edie investigates more she uncovers things about her loved one; betrayal, deception and the truth, at last. 

This is an unusual setting; the Intensive Care Unit makes the story feel more claustrophobic and the author expertly weaves NHS ethics and how a breach of trust can create terrible outcomes for those involved. 

From the dramatic opening, through to the unexpected finale, this is a tense, sometimes unsettling and at times, very dark thriller with themes of amnesia, dangerous pasts and internal conflicts. Edie is a flawed, yet compelling protagonist 

A fabulous debut. I look forward to reading more from this author. Recommended. 

C.J Griffiths has spent most of his working life in the NHS, as a paramedic, anaesthetic
practitioner and as part of a hospital resuscitation team. 

During his career he became fascinated with the unique level of trust involved in healthcare and was drawn to explore the darker side of medical ethics in his writing. 

He is the recipient of the Writers and Artists’ Working-Class Writers Prize and was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award. 

He lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife and children, and when not writing spends his time immersed in books, films and music.

Instagram @cjgriffithsauthor

The Vanishing Act by Jo Jakeman #TheVanishingAct @JoJakemanWrites @LittleBrownUK @HannahHargrave8 #BookReview

 

Life as a missing person is absolute murder...

When artist Eloise Ford hears that human remains found in an abandoned mine are believed to be those of long-missing teenager Elizabeth King, the shock sends her reeling.

It can't be true. Eloise knows this for a fact because... she is Elizabeth King.

Now, her carefully curated life in Cornwall is falling apart. Her husband is acting strangely, her children aren't speaking to her and she can't sell a painting for love nor money. But much more worrying are the signs that someone knows exactly who she is... and why she had to vanish thirty years ago.

Eloise needs answers. Is her son's ex-girlfriend just plain annoying... or does she know something? Will the detection skills of the online 'Truth Seekers' group prove more than amateurish? What's the real story behind those village newcomers?

And just how far would she go to keep her family, her friends, and her fraudulent life, safe?

The Vanishing Act by Jo Jakeman is published on 11 September 2025 by Constable. My thanks to the publisher, and publicist Hannah for my copy for review. 

This is one of the best books that I've read this year. I have been entertained, I have laughed, I have gasped at the twists, I have loved characters, I have hated characters. This is crime fiction laced with dry wit that is incredibly clever. 

Human remains have been found in an abandoned mine house, near to where Eloise lives in Cornwall. The media report that the remains have been identified as Elizabeth King, a teenager who went missing decades ago.  The community is shocked, but nobody is as shocked as Eloise because she knows the truth about Elizabeth. She is Elizabeth King, so that body certainly isn't. 

Whilst Eloise appears to have a great life in the small Cornish town she now calls home, she is struggling. Her husband Kim is acting in a strange way, her daughter is no longer speaking to her and her art gallery is not as successful as she would hope.  Add to this, the discovery of this body, and then another one and it becomes clear to Eloise that someone close knows far more about her than she is comfortable with. 

With the help of Molly; her son's ex-girlfriend, who she initially dislikes, and Molly's team of online detectives called the Truth Seekers, Eloise sets out to uncover the mystery and what follows is a clever, complex tale of intrigue, murder and long held secrets. 

The characters are drawn with precision, the Cornish setting is wonderful and the dialogue and pace is just perfect.  I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it. 

Born in Cyprus, Jo Jakeman worked for many years in London before settling
in Cornwall with her husband and sons.

When she's not writing or reading, Jo walks the coastal paths and plots the fictional downfall of those who have wronged her.

www.jojakeman.com

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The Sadder Side of Me by Claire Rowden #TheSadderSideofMe @secretWofabook @RandomTTours @secretworldofabook.bsky.social‬ #BookReview #BellsPalsy

 

In 'The Sadder Side of Me', I take you on a deeply personal journey through the unexpected onset of Bell's Palsy. One moment, life was ordinary; the next, an unfamiliar face stared back from the mirror. This harrowing experience unravels not only the physical struggle of losing control over half of my face, but also the profound day-to-day challenges with this and the emotional and psychological turmoil that ensued.

Through candid storytelling, I share the raw, unfiltered reality of grappling with this condition. As the days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, the initial shock gave way to a relentless battle with anxiety and self-doubt. Each chapter unfolds the intimate details of navigating a life turned upside down, from the medical maze of diagnosis and treatment to the ripple effects on relationships and family dynamics.

But this book is more than just a chronicle of suffering; it's a testament to resilience and the human spirit. Moments of hope, a journey into finding my cure after the NHS let me down, and the unwavering support of loved ones punctuated my journey. The Sadder Side of Me delves into the causes and complexities of Bell's palsy, providing insights into the condition that are both informative and enlightening.

Faced with adversity, I discover strength and courage within, revealing how I coped, adapted, and ultimately attempting on a daily basis to redefine my identity. The Sadder Side of Me is an interesting narrative that will resonate with anyone who has faced unexpected challenges, reminding us of all the enduring power of hope and perseverance.

The Sadder Side of Me by Claire Rowden was published on 19 November 2024. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

I have known the author, Claire for many years. We've only met in real life once, but she's a huge part of the book blogging / reviewing community on line. Her blog and Instagram; Secret World of a Book is wonderful. Packed with great reviews and beautiful graphics, Claire is one of the best. 

I was shocked to learn that Claire had suffered with Bell's Palsy. I had no idea that she had been so unwell, and I totally understand why she wanted to keep that to herself.  I've always thought how pretty Claire is and am especially envious of her wonderful curly hair, it must have been such a shock to her, to have her appearance altered so much by this disease that just strikes out of nowhere. 

Claire is a busy woman with a family of four children. Her children are all near in age and she has always juggled being a mum, a home maker, a keeper of animals, a wife and a book reviewer very well. When Bell's Palsy struck and one side of her face was paralysed, it was a horrendous experience for her. 

Written with honesty and clarity, this memoir follows Claire as she explores different avenues for treatment. Sadly let down by the NHS, she discovers acupuncture and despite a fear of needles, she embarks on a course.  Claire's fear is palpable and her bravery is outstanding. Not once does she give in.

The love and support of Claire's mother and sister shines through in the writing and it's so clear that they are a close trio who are always there for each other. There's no doubt that this journey would have been far more difficult for Claire without them. 

A brave, unflinching story of how Bell's Palsy changed a life. Recommended. 

Claire Rowden lives in Essex with her husband, their four children, seven cats, a Belgium Mali dog, two Peking ducks and a unique quartet of Silkie Showgirl chickens. 

Their household is a lively blend of love and laughter, reflecting Claire’s nurturing spirit and her passion for life.

Balancing family life with her professional aspirations, Claire is currently training to be a psychotherapist, driven by her deep desire to understand and support the emotional well-being of others. Her compassionate nature and insightful approach make her a natural in the field of mental health.

Claire is also an avid reader and a dedicated blogger. 

On her Instagram blog, Secretworldofabook, she shares her love for reading with a growing community of fellow book enthusiasts. 

Her blog is a vibrant space where she discusses her latest reads and connects with others who share her passion for literature.

When she’s not immersed in the world of books or her studies, Claire finds solace in nature. 

She loves spending time outdoors, finding peace and inspiration in the natural world around her.