I am a huge fan of Finnish author Antti Tuomainen and his new release, Little Siberia, only confirms to me his status as 'King of Helsinki Noir'. The translation of Little Siberia by David Hackston is also excellent. Fargo meets Nietzsche in this atmospheric, darkly funny thriller by the … [Read more...]
Book Tour: Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May
I'm delighted to take part in the Blog Tour for Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May. And on publication day to boot! This is the second book in The Cockleberry series. The first book, The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay made the best-sellers lists and I have no doubt that this sequel will be … [Read more...]
Top Five Books for Easter Holidays
The Easter holidays, in my mind, are the perfect time to relax with a good book. It's a time when you need just a plain good read, or perhaps something more spiritual. For me, an excellent book is one that I just can't stop reading, whatever the genre or subject matter. Here, in my top five books … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: The Corner Shop at Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May
This month's Best Reads is The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay. I read this feel-good novel in two days while suffering from a winter cold. It was hugely restorative to be transported into the wonderful seaside community of Cockleberry Bay with its sea breeze, screeching seagulls and gossiping … [Read more...]
Top 8 New Books About Love For Valentine’s
Fancy a romantic or passionate read for Valentines? Here's a list of the latest books about love, be it all rose petals or thorns and dark passion. You are guaranteed to find your favourite amongst these brilliant authors! 1. Jojo Moyes: Still Me The third book in this tragic love trilogy … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: The Rest of Their Lives by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
To be honest, it was the cover of this novel, The Rest of Their Lives by French author Jean-Paul Didierlaurent, that attracted me to the book. Even I'm occasionally (=very often) drawn towards bubblegum colours. I also love European literature, and this quirky novel did definitely not disappoint me. … [Read more...]
Five Books for a Heatwave
A heatwave can be a terrible experience as we've recently witnessed with the tragic loss of life in Japan and in Greece where wildfires have raged killing at least 80 people. Heatwaves also make people a little mad, something which provides perfect fodder for authors wishing to create a spectacular … [Read more...]
High Risk by Simona Ahrnstedt
High Risk by Simona Ahrnstedt is a story of journalist Ambra Vinter and her famous step-sister, pop singer Jill Lopez. Both women are scarred by their childhoods spent in various foster families in Sweden. Nordic Noir or Nordic Romance? To be honest, I'm in two minds about this book. While … [Read more...]
Hate the Football World Cup? Escape to the Wonderful World of Box Sets Instead!
You must have noticed there's something called Football World Cup on at the moment. In our house, it's wall-to-wall football (or soccer as it's called in the US) and already only a few days in, I'm sick of it. (Is it me, or do you think it'll be even worse now England have won their first … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: The Defenceless by Kati Hiekkapelto
The Defenceless by Kati Hiekkapelto, published in the UK by Orenda Books, is a Nordic Noir tale of immigration, drugs and unexplained deaths set in a coastal city in Finland. The Plot Anna Fekete, a young police detective hailing from Eastern Europe, is called to a case of a fatal car accident, … [Read more...]
