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The Haunting Scent of Poppies by Victoria Williamson
The Haunting Scent of Poppies is a captivating historical fiction novella that immerses readers in the tumultuous landscape of the First World War. Written by the talented Victoria Williamson, this book skillfully weaves together a compelling narrative that combines historical accuracy with engaging characters to provide a vivid and emotional portrayal of a pivotal period in human history. The synopsis instantly drew me in. it was a difficult topic with that was dealt with the utmost dignity and respect. His characters are edgy and relatable and its most definitely inspiration from everyday life. The story focusses on Charlie Briggs a masterful and conniving thief who operates in the shadowy realms of…
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Brother by Ania Ahlborn
Brother has ruined me for other horror novels. This was the piece de resistance of extreme. Darker than a motherfucking black hole. To say I have a soft spot for horror stories that push against the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable in modern literature is an understatement. For this reason, I have been getting into extreme horror lately in a big way. It’s the kind of story that ends up like a sticky spiderweb – you turn and get trapped further, the spider a never-ending threat that pushes further on the edge of your peripheral vision. It stalks you slowly, ramping up the fear and the anticipation. That is…
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The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill by C.S. Robertson
The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill was outstanding! Nothing fills me with more joy that finding a new crime novel that’s set in Scotland. I’m proud of this wee country but if you thought for a moment that it was all visit Scotland type photographs and inspirational quotes about this wonderous place, you would be sorely mistaken. Yes, we do have the stunning glens, fantastical mountainous peaks, and country parks to die for, but we also have the darker side – the shadows lingering down alleys, constantly waiting and watching, the drug abuse, the violence and the most insidious – the crime. Grace McGill is a thirty-five-year-old woman living on…
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Feeding the Void Morgan K. Tanner
Feeding the Void is bracingly original. An unsettling story with an ending that genuinely had me shocked and chucking in equal measures. Feeding the Void…what are the first images to pop into your head when you say those words? For me personally, I imagine a depressed soul trying to find something, anything to fill the emptiness that they feel, whether that be with food, addiction, or adrenaline. Do they bungee jump, take chances? That’s where my mind instantly goes, I didn’t suggest for a moment that it was a happy go lucky vista. I am a sucker for a horror that examines the blurring lines between the occult and…
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Jump Cut by Helen Grant
Jump Cut is a story that will stay with you. Emotionally tense and gloriously hypnotic, it is a story that is sure to enclose you in its tight embrace. Jump Cut is Helen Grant’s next novel and lord is it a throat punch. I absolutely adored her last novel, Too Near the Dead and this one emitted similar feelings. The impending sense of dread, brilliant character development, a sense of place. I love the gothic nature of her tales; you really appreciate the blend of history and the present time coming together to create a hugely compulsive read. Even if you’ve never read a Helen Grant book before, I 100%…
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Dark is the Grave by T.G. Reid
Dark is the Grave is a crime novel with a beating heart and a raw location. I’m late to this party but everyone needs to do themselves a favour and read this series now. I’ve never preordered the next book so quick! Well, what a freaking ride Dark is the Grave was! This was something that I kept thinking to myself while reading this banger of a crime novel. Now its no surprise that I love crime novels based in my homeland of Scotland. There’s just something about the rugged nature of the countryside that lends itself to something sinister, something mysterious – there’s just so much to be gleamed…
