Trespasser by Paul Doiron

Trespasser by Paul Doiron is the second of his series featuring Game Warden Mike Bowditch, set in rural Maine.  Trespasser was published by Constable & Robinson's C&R Crime in May 2013.  The first in the series; The Poachers's Son was released in January.  You can read my review of it here.

"While on patrol on foggy March evening, Mike Bowditch receives a call for help. A woman has reportedly struck a deer on a lonely coast road. When the game warden arrives on the scene, he finds blood in the road - but both the driver and deer have vanished. The details of the disappearance seem eerily familiar. Seven years earlier, a jury convicted Erland Jefferts of the rape and murder of a college student and sentenced him to a life in prison. But when the missing woman is found brutalized in a manner that suggests Jefferts may have been framed, Bowditch receives a warning from state prosecutors to stop asking questions.

For Bowditch, doing nothing is not an option. And as he closes in on his quarry, he suddenly discovers how dangerous his opponents are, and how far they will go to prevent him from bringing a killer to justice."

Just like The Poacher's Son, this next instalment is a gripping well thought out and expertly paced thriller story.  Our hero, Mike Bowditch is a little older and a tiny bit wiser - having learnt a great deal in the first story about his father and their relationship.  However, Bowditch is still young and at times he is still hot-headed, often acting on his instincts, rather than with common sense.   These traits make Bowditch a realistic and likeable character, someone who is passionate about his work and has a strong sense of justice.

The plot line is cleverly put together, at times complicated, but with each strand of the story meshing together to create an exciting thriller with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Paul Doiron

As the mystery unfolds, so does the character of Bowditch along with his partner Sarah and his Warden colleagues.  Again, Doiron has brought to life the wonderful Maine countryside, with it's beauty and wildlife and it's bleakness and share of criminals.

I enjoyed every minute of this story and look forward very much to reading the next in the series.

As always, my thanks go to the Constable & Robinson C&R Crime team for providing my copy for review.

More information about Paul Doiron and his books can be found at this website here, on Facebook here and on Twitter here

Book Launch - More Weird Things Customers Say In Bookshops by Jen Campbell

I was really honoured when Constable & Robinson  invited me to the launch party for Jen Campbell's More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops.  I travelled down to London on Thursday afternoon and spent a lovely couple of hours wandering around the shops before making my way to Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street for the event.

I've heard many things about Daunt Books and was so looking forward to actually visiting at last. Wow! What an amazing bookshop, it's so gorgeous, an original Edwardian shop with oak galleries and a beautiful glass ceiling.  I was in raptures. All the books are arranged by country, it really is a delight and I've promised myself a return trip very soon.

The event soon got underway, with lots of nibbles and wine.  It was great to meet up with Sam from Constable & Robinson at long last, and good to have a chat about blogging and publishing.  I was able to have a quick chat with Jen Campbell and she was happy to sign my copies of both of her fabulous books.


Jen Campbell grew up in a small village in the north-east of England. After studying English Literature at Edinburgh University, she moved to north London where she now works at an antiquarian bookshop.

Her first book, Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops, was published in 2012 and was a Sunday Times Bestseller. The sequel, More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops, was published April 2013. 
Jen is also a published poet and short story writer. Her poetry pamphlet The Hungry Ghost Festival is published by The Rialto.. 

Both books are laugh-out-loud funny, and also, if I'm honest, a tiny bit frightening.  Weird is certainly the right word to describe some of the things that Jen has either overheard, or has actually been said to her.  I'd be scared, very scared.  I've spent the past few days reading some of these out to my husband, we have squealed with laughter, but we've also cringed in places.   Anyone who loves books will have to prepare themselves for some of the just downright unbelievable utterances that are in this book!

A couple of tasters for you:

"Did Charles Dickens ever write anything fun?" 

"I'm just going to run to the store to do the weekly food shopping. I'm just going to leave my sons here, is that okay? They're three and five. They're no trouble."

"What books could I buy to make guests look at my bookshelf and think, 'Wow, that guy's intelligent'?"

Customer: "Have you read every single book in here?"

Bookseller: "No, I can't say I have."

Jen Campbell

Customer: "Well, you're not very good at your job, are you?" 

I'd really recommend both of these books - they are wonderful and bound to make anyone smile (or grimace occasionally!).

Find out more about Jen Campbell here, her blog is here.   There's also a Facebook page for 'Weird Things' which you can like here  

Chilled To The Bone by Quentin Bates

I've been so looking forward to catching up with Officer Gunnhildur.  Chilled To The Bone by Quentin Bates is number three in  the series of Icelandic murder mystery stories that feature Gunna as the lead character.    Frozen Out (2011) and Cold Comfort (2012) are the first two books, you can read my thoughts about those here.

Chilled To The Bone was published by Constable & Robinson's crime imprint C&R Crime on 18 April 2013.   Although this is number three in the series, it could be read as a stand alone, but personally I would advise anyone to start with the first novel.

Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladottir finds herself heading up what starts as a fairly straightforward investigation.  A local businessman is found dead in a hotel bedroom, there is no evidence that this was a murder but as Gunna makes more enquiries, she finds herself slap-bang in the middle of something that is beginning to get dangerous.  It appears that there is a bondage ring operating in the city.  It seems that this is not the first time a wealthy businessman has been found in an incriminating position in an upmarket hotel yet people are loathe to speak out - they seem very scared.   At the same time, local Government officers are making a fuss about a mislaid laptop, putting pressure on Gunna and her department to pull out all the stops to find it.
Quentin Bates has produced an intricate, finely plotted detective story which has some really menacing undertones.  Gunna is an amazing lead character; realistic and bold, with secrets of her own that yet again Bates has refused to fully disclose.  There is something compelling about this character, she has a history that is very slowly being revealed throughout the series in snippets and leaves the reader wanting to know what? why? how?

As in both of the previous novels, I do sometimes become a little muddled by the long, and quite strange looking Icelandic names of the character - but of course, for realism, they have to be included, and as the story progresses the reader does get to know the lead players very well.

A fast-paced crime novel, with great characters, a clever plot and a smattering of humour.  Bring on the next instalment!

I was lucky enough to meet author Quentin Bates at the launch party for C&R Crime a couple of months ago, it was great to chat to him about Gunna and her exploits, although he wasn't giving anything away about her secrets.

Although born in the UK in 1962, through a series of coincidences Quentin Bates found himself working in Iceland in his gap year. The gap year then became 10 years, during which time he managed to get himself married, produce a family, and generally go native in Iceland. The family then moved back to the UK in 1990 where Quentin became a full-time journalist on a commercial fishing magazine. Frozen Assets was born through the author's own inside knowledge of Iceland and its society, along with exploring the world of crime. He and his (Icelandic) wife frequently return to Iceland, where they have manyfriends, including several in the Reykjavik police.

Check out Quentin Bates' website at http://graskeggur.com/  You can follow him on Facebook here , and his Twitter account is here

My thanks to Quentin Bates for sending me a signed copy of the novel.

The Paradise Guest House by Ellen Sussman

I was honoured to be asked to take part in the Blog Tour for Ellen Sussman's novel The Paradise Guest House, published on 21 March by Canvas, an imprint of Constable & Robinson.

I read and reviewed Ellen Sussman's last novel; French Lessons back in December 2011.  What impressed me most about that novel was the author's ability to tell quite an intimate, fairly complicated story in such a sparse style.

This is the story of two quite isolated people; Jamie and Gabe.   Flung together in the aftermath of the terrible terrorist attacks on the island of Bali, they only spent a couple of days together before going back to live their separate lives.  One year later, Jamie is returning to Bali for a remembrance ceremony.   Her scars are not only on the outside, she is suffering and haunted by feelings of guilt.  Guilt that she was unable to save her boyfriend on that awful night, and guilt about leaving Gabe so suddenly, with no explanation.

When Jamie lands in Bali, she is welcomed into the home of another victim of that night and befriended by a young boy who helps her to see just what is important to her.   When she finally finds Gabe again, it is time for both of them to face up to their past and think about their future.

Just like French Lessons, this novel is fairly short at just over 250 pages.  Despite this, the story is vivid and well-paced.  Ellen Sussman doesn't waste one word. There are no flowery descriptions or pages and pages of unnecessary dialogue.  The story is told in sparse, yet descriptive language which transports the reader straight to the heart of the island of Bali.  The culture, the people, the sights and sounds are brought to life expertly.  Jamie and Gabe are complex characters, each have had their own sorrows in the past and both of them have chosen alternative lifestyles in order to cope with these.    Ellen Sussman spent time in Bali whilst researching this novel and this is apparent throughout the story, she has captured the tastes and flavours of the island whilst also portraying the sadness and despair that remains amongst the people who live there.  The terrorist bombings in what should be a place of peace and tranquility has left a mark on its people that will be hard to overcome.

I enjoyed The Paradise Guest House very much.  I think that Ellen Sussman is a talented author who is able to capture a sense of place incredibly well.

Ellen Sussman

As part of the Blog Tour, I'm really delighted to welcome Ellen Sussman to Random Things Through My Letterbox today.  Ellen has kindly answered some questions about her reading and writing habits.

What are you reading at the moment?
I'm reading The Fault In Our Stars, a wonderful novel that started out as a book for young adults and has now found an adult audience.  It's wonderful, but I can't stop crying!

Do you read reviews of your novels?  Do you take them seriously?
I do read them.  Sometimes I think I shouldn't - I take them too seriously!  I care so much about what my readers think of my books.  In my mind, the writing process isn't over until someone reads the novel.  I love hearing from fans - that means even more to me than reviews.

How long does it take to write a novel?
It takes me about a year.   I write a first draft in about 6 months and then I rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

Do you have any writing rituals?
Yes.  I'm a much disciplined writer.  I work from 9 - noon 5 or 6 days a week.   I don't answer the phone or check email while I'm working.  I can't quit until I've written 1000 words.  I'm a very tough boss!

What was your favourite childhood book?
As a young girl I loved Charlotte's Web.   Later on, The Catcher in the Rye.

Name one book that made you laugh?
A new novel called Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple.  It's wonderful and very funny.

Name one book that made you cry?
The Fault in our Stars!    Also, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Which fictional character would you like to meet?
Jay Gatsby

Are you inspired by any particular author or book?
I'm inspired by every book I read!   I read all the time and I always ask myself, how did the author do this?  So I'm learning all the time.

What is your guilty pleasure read?
I don't really believe we should feel guilty about anything we read.

Who are your favourite authors?
I love Jennifer Egan and Ann Patchett.

What book have you re-read?
I'm not big on re-reading novels.  There are too many great novels out there waiting for me.

What book have you given up on?
I have a 50 page test.  If I'm not hooked by page 50, I move on.  Unfortunately, I move on a lot!

Huge thanks to Ellen Sussman for answering my questions.  I must say that I agree on the guilty pleasure read answer - never feel guilty, that's my motto.  Read what you like, when you like and be proud!

I'd like to thank Emily Burns from Constable & Robinson for inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour and for sending a copy of The Paradise Guest House for review.

Follow Ellen on Twitter @EllenSussman.  More information can be found on her website here.

C&R Crime Launch Party & Giveaway of The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron

Publisher Constable and Robinson recently consolidated it's crime fiction into a single imprint; C&R Crime - with a new logo and it's own website at www.crcrime.co.uk

C&R Crime launch included  the publication of The Circus, James Craig's fourth novel in the Inspector Carlyle series and The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron.

I was delighted to be invited to the C&R Crime launch party which was held on 28 February 2012 at The Gallery at the Crypt, St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square.

I travelled down to London by train early that evening and found my way to The Crypt which was a fantastic location for a Crime Party - wonderfully atmospheric, with dark nooks and crannies everywhere.

I really enjoyed the party and met up with some other book bloggers and publishers.  There were so many authors there, it was really lovely to hear MC Beaton give a speech - she's just about to publish her 106th novel - what an amazing lady.   I spotted Cath Staincliffe across the room, but was never able to actually get through the crush to say hello.  I did meet Quentin Bates - I'm a huge fan of his novels and it was great to meet him at last, after being Facebook friends for ages.  Poor man, I grilled him about the next book in his series.


I really enjoyed the evening and was delighted to come away with a lovely goodie bag full of exciting new releases from C&R Crime.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

I'm really delighted to be able to offer a hard back copy of The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron - I reviewed it a while ago, and you can read my thoughts here.

It's really a fabulous read and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.   To be in with a chance of winning a copy of The Poacher's Son, please fill in the form below, the giveaway will be open for seven days.    

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

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