#BlogTour The Dark Chorus by Ashley Meggitt

 

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Dark Chorus by Ashley Meggitt.

About the Author

Ashley Meggitt lives near Cambridge, UK, with his wife Jane. He left school to join a psychedelic rock band when he realised that sex, drugs, and rock and roll was a thing. Subsequently he went back to education and became head of IT for a Cambridge University College. In recent years Ashley has retrained in psychology and is now an associate lecturer in sports psychology. He is studying for his PhD. He also holds an MA in Creative Writing. The Dark Chorus is his debut novel.

Follow @CallMeReg on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Goodreads, Visit ashleymeggitt.com, Buy The Dark Chorus

About the book

Oblivio salvationem Angelis opperitur - Oblivion awaits the Angel’s salvation - The Boy can see lost souls. 

He has never questioned the fact that he can see them. He thinks of them as the Dark Chorus. When he sets out to restore the soul of his dead mother it becomes clear that his ability comes from within him. It is a force that he cannot ignore – the last shard of the shattered soul of an angel. 

To be restored to the kingdom of light, the shard must be cleansed of the evil that infects it – but this requires the corrupt souls of the living! With the help from Makka, a psychotically violent young man full of hate, and Vee, an abused young woman full of pain, the Boy begins to kill. 

Psychiatrist Dr Eve Rhodes is seconded to assist the police investigation into the Boy’s apparently random ritualistic killings. As the investigation gathers pace, a pattern emerges. When Eve pulls at the thread from an article in an old psychology journal, what might otherwise have seemed to her a terrible psychotic delusion now feels all too real…

Will the Boy succeed in restoring the angel’s soul to the light? Can Eve stop him, or will she be lost to realm of the Dark Chorus?

Review

The reader meets the Boy as he attempts to capture the soul of his mother. What he has to do is ultimately what lands him behind fences and in the midst of anger that simmers under the surface, and a professional who struggles with her own demons.

Catching a soul in a jar is such a beautiful and simultaneously creepy way of drawing parallels to the innocence of a child and perhaps the kind of madness that none of us can comprehend completely. The Boy sees deep inside, he sees what others can't, and what he can see is something that drives every decision he makes.

I really enjoyed the premise and the way Meggitt combined historical medical references to treatment of the mentally ill, religious zealotry that warps into the occult, the tinge of supernatural and magical realism, which all stands in stark contrast to the violence, abuse and racism.

I was also intrigued by the way the author keeps the main character as a non-identifiable persona. The Boy remains the Boy throughout, which is perhaps also part of the premise. This searching for identity, release and connection to his mother. He has no identity, because he has no idea where he came from. Nothing tangible to connect with - a core that drives every decision and moment.

I wonder if we will be encountering the Boy again. I definitely think there is a lot more where that came from and hope the author expands on the premise.

Buy The Dark Chorus at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : darkstroke books, pub date 14 Oct. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour The Sadeiest by Austrian Spencer

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Sadeiest by Austrian Spencer.

About the Author

Austrian had an unfortunate trauma aged eight, when a truck drove over him and his ‘Grifter’ bike. This made him bedridden and a captive of books for too many years. The habit persisted throughout his life (reading books, not staying in bed), to the extent that his daughter’s first painting was of him holding a book, rather than her hand. He has the picture framed in the upstairs toilet, to look at whilst feeling vulnerable.

He is the ‘glass-half-full’, an eternal optimist and believes passionately in you. You are doing exactly what you need to be doing at this moment in your life. He often thinks this, while staring at his daughter’s first painting.

Austrian does not watch horror films, though enjoys horror books.  His influences include Alan Moore, Dave Sim, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, The family King, Iain M.Banks, from whom he wishes to learn. Be inspired. He owes them everything, despite their beards. The Sadeiest is Austrian’s debut novel.

Follow @SpencerAustrian on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit austrianspencer.com, Buy The Sadeiest

About the book

Is today a good day to die? Death – a walking skeleton armed with a scythe, a rider of the apocalypse, it has always been assumed – is a man that brings the souls of the dead to wherever they are destined to go.

But what if we got that wrong? What if he were a ghost that, instead of moving your soul on silently after you had died, actually did the hard part for you? Death has to die, again and again, to pay for his sins, and to free trapped souls before their bodies perish – only to replace those souls, to die for them.

A Death whose existence is a curse, where the other riders of the Apocalypse are not his allies, but his enemies.

Armed only with his morals, his memories and the advice of a child teacher, Williams, a Sadeiest, travels through the deaths of other people, on his way to becoming something greater. Something that will re-define the Grim Reaper.

Death just came to life, in time to fight for a child hunted by the other horsemen of the Apocalypse. How do you want to die today?

Review

The read is intermittently broken up with graphic novel illustrations and helps to cement the feeling of violence and uncertainty, whereas the words drive a wedge between what we think we know and an alternate reality. It's a dark hole that might make you feel uncomfortable, because what if all the other theories about death and souls are just an attempt to gloss over the horrific truth. Death becomes the victim, the sufferer instead of the looming figure everyone fears.

'Passionately believes you don't have to lead the reader by the nose. Let them think, dammit.'

Hmm good point and I agree to a certain extent, however it depends on what the reader is looking for in a read and perhaps even the genre. When it comes to a read like this one, which I would put in the Speculative Fiction or Speculative Horror genre, often the aspect of speculative may not allow for the reader to do the above.

Trying to outsmart the reader may not let them interpret the premise in the way the author thinks they will. Case in point - the blurb reflects an interesting idea, however the story itself reflects a different one entirely. At least it does for me, which is of course the crux of a reading experience - it's subjective one. Maybe a little more leading and a little less assumption about interpretation or that the reader will walk the intended path. 

I like a walk along the speculative road. It crosses boundaries, it's a way to experience creativity on another level and it opens up new worlds and ideas for readers. Spencer does that and I look forward to experiencing more of his ideas.

Buy The Sadeiest at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: darkstroke / crooked cat, pub date 27 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Hellenic Abduction by Columbkill Noonan

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Hellenic Abduction

About the Author

Columbkill Noonan is the author of the best-selling Barnabas Tew series, which features a proper British detective from Victorian London who ends up solving mythological cases for gods all around the world. She was was born in Philadelphia and grew up in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, and teaches Anatomy and Physiology at a university in Maryland. Her writing is mostly speculative fiction (especially stories that involve mythology, or the supernatural, or any combination thereof). Some of her work is a bit on the spooky side, but usually there is a touch of humor (who says the afterlife has to be serious?) 

When she's not teaching or writing, Columbkill can be found with her rescue horse (whose name is Mittens), hiking in the woods, or doing yoga of all kinds (aerial yoga and SUP yoga are particular favorites). She is an avid traveler, and can't wait to get back to seeing the world again. 

Follow @ColumbkillNoon1 on Twitter, or ColumbkillNoonan on Facebook, on Goodreads, Buy Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Hellenic Abduction

About the book

Zeus is used to getting what he wants...but that was before he met Barnabas Tew!

Barnabas and Wilfred, the unluckiest detectives ever, are happily enjoying their time in India, working on mastering their emotions, and learning how to do all sorts of interesting yoga poses. They're having a splendid time, and feel as if they've finally found some peace in their lives. Everything changes, though, when Zeus suddenly whisks them away from their idyllic retreat and demands that they solve a case for him.

Having no choice, they reluctantly accept the job, but quickly come to realize that nothing is as it should be. Zeus' motives are suspect from the beginning, the rest of the Greek gods and goddesses are untrustworthy at best, and Barnabas' temper hasn't improved at all during his time in India. And, most importantly, who is the mysterious lady who keeps popping up just when they need her? Is she friend, or is she foe?

To make matters even worse, both Barnabas and Wilfred have unresolved feelings of their own. Can they settle their own emotional affairs, once and for all? Will they figure out what's right and what's wrong in this topsy-turvy world of lies, intrigue, and trickery? Or will the Greek gods and goddesses prove too much for them?

Review

Barnabas isn't exactly the king of charm. I'd actually go as far as to say that in the direst of moments he often rocks the boat a little too much, which is when he needs Wilfred to steady the waters. This is especially dangerous when their next client turns out to be the king of the gods himself - Zeus.

He doesn't take too well to the backtalk and when people point out that he might be just be a tad sexist and the job he has for the peculiar sleuthing duo might be a bit on the dubious side, and that's without the side note of peddling young princesses for the great Zeus, he gets a bit cranky.

Noonan combines mythology with a quirky odd couple who tend to fall into their cases with a Victorian era colonialesque charm, if you can call it charm. It's a entertaining box of mixed chocolates. You just never know what you're going to get when you flip the page. 

I kind of liked the way Noonan makes a point without taking a foam finger and pointing straight at it. There is a fine line between good and bad, a reputation and the reality of a person and their character. Barnabas may seem like a pain in the behind, but he has the best intentions. The moral of the story he will tell is that sitting on a pedestal does not automatically make you an upstanding citizen and sometimes someone has to take a stand.

Buy Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Hellenic Abduction at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: darkstroke books pub date 17 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogBlitz The Unquiet Spirit by Penny Hampson

Today it's the Blog Blitz for The Unquiet Spirit by Penny Hampson.

About the Author
Some time ago Penny Hampson decided to follow her passion for history by studying with the Open University. She graduated with honours and went on to complete a post-graduate degree.

Penny then landed her dream role, working in an environment where she was surrounded by rare books and historical manuscripts. Flash forward nineteen years, and the opportunity came along to indulge her other main passion – writing. Penny joined the New Writers’ Scheme of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and  three years later published her debut novel, A Gentleman’s Promise, a  historical mystery/romance. Other books in the same genre soon followed.

But never happy in a rut, Penny also writes contemporary suspense with paranormal and romantic elements. Her first book in this genre is The Unquiet Spirit, published by Darkstroke.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time). For more on Penny’s writing, visit her blog: pennyhampson.co.uk/blog/

Follow @penny_hampson on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Buy The Unquiet Spirit

About the book
A new beginning. A house with a past. A man with secrets. It was a dream come true…that turned into a nightmare.

Kate Wilson thinks moving back to Cornwall might be the answer to her prayers. But it isn’t long before she begins to have doubts. Is the house she inherited from her godmother haunted? Or is she going out of her mind? With a stalker, threats, and attempted break-ins, Kate’s troubles multiply.

Then there’s her enigmatic neighbour, the brooding Tom Carbis; a man with secrets he doesn’t wish to share. Can she trust him when he says he wants to help? In her quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding her, will Kate uncover more than she bargains for?

Review

Kate isn't expecting to inherit anything from her godmother Win, so when she inherits an entire house in Cornwall it's comes as a surprise, but not exactly a bad one. She is already spooked because she thinks someone is following her in her hometown, and multiple break-ins in her new home do nothing to alleviate her worries.

Her broody neighbour with the overly friendly dog doesn't make her feel more at ease. She is afraid of dogs and her last relationship was a bit of a disaster. They can both keep their distance as far as she is concerned, but somehow they both seem to insert themselves in her life every chance they get.

Hmm it's a question of tread lightly or give all the secrets away. This is a story of ghosts and the paranormal, but Hampson also has a strong sub-plot that plays alongside the ghost story. An important one, which tends to be silenced by the stigma surrounding it. Shame, guilt and embarrassment keeps the victims who suffer in the darkness. To admit is equal to being considered weak.

I liked the way the author approached this, by creating a character who is at first glance abrupt, rude and not very likeable. It's an interesting way of showing the barriers and walls that are constructed to protect and heal, and how they are viewed from the outside by someone with no prior information about said person.

It's an intriguing combination of mystery, ghost story and even a murder thrown in for free. It doesn't stop there though because Hampson also adds a note of romance to the mixture.

Buy The Unquiet Spirit at Amazon Uk go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Crooked Cat / darkstroke; pub date 21 Aug. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#PublicationDayPush The Merry Month of Murder by Nicola Slade

Today it's Publication Day for The Merry Month of Murder by Nicola Slade.

About the Author
Nicola Slade is an award-winning, bestselling author of historical and contemporary mysteries and romantic fiction, all set in and around Winchester and Romsey in Hampshire – which is where she lives. The House at Ladywell – a contemporary romantic novel with historical echoes – won the International Chatelaine Grand Prize for Romantic Fiction at the CIBA awards in April 2019.

She is the author of the mid-Victorian Charlotte Richmond mysteries and the contemporary Harriet Quigley mysteries. The Convalescent Corpse, published November 2018, an Amazon best-seller, the first in a new series, The Fyttleton Mysteries, set in 1918.

The Merry Month of Murder, the second book in The Fyttleton Mysteries - Published 10th September 2020

Follow @nicolasladeuk on Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads,Visit nicolaslade.wordpress.com, Buy The Merry Month of Murder,

About the book
It was teatime on Tuesday, and nobody had died yet…

May 1918 - In a world where the men are at war and the women keep the home fires burning, Christabel Fyttleton is faced with domestic crises involving lodgers, rationing, maypole dancers and Kaiser Bill (don’t ask!) – as well as her most daunting challenge ever.

Not only that! There’s a sudden death – again – as though she hasn’t enough to cope with already. But is it murder, misadventure, or merely misfortune?

Review
Although this is described as a cosy murder mystery series I think it wanders more into realms of family dynamics. A light-hearted family saga that is cemented by the historical settings and the surroundings. The murder aspect becomes almost secondary to the emotional and often witty moments between the characters.

Even the characters themselves are in on the game when it comes to dealing with the tough as it is thrown at them and trying to make light of the repercussions of the war. What good is drowning in despair when life has to go on? The Fyttleton women have a whole box full of escapades and I particularly like the ironic tone the story is infused with.

Slade combines the serious and often desperate times experienced by those left behind, stoking the home fires as they say, whilst loved ones were fighting for their country overseas. She takes the moments of desperation and turns them into moments of laughter. The reader can smile and forget the serious side of their situation for just a second. The end of the war is near and yet the losses, the devastation and aftermath of the war, are leaving a trail that will touch everyone in some way or the other.

It's a cosy family mystery series that will appeal to readers who like their murder light and humorous. The author also delivers some more serious historical aspects of the story, which is what probably gives it the in-between genre feel. Let's see what the Fyttleton women fall into next - they sure do have an affinity for finding bodies and crime everywhere.

Buy The Merry Month of Murder at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: darkstroke  -  Crooked Cat pub date 10 Sept. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.