Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

Little Darlings
By Melanie Golding
Published by HQ (2 May 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

THE TWINS ARE CRYING.
THE TWINS ARE HUNGRY.

LAUREN IS CRYING.
LAUREN IS EXHAUSTED.

Behind the hospital curtain, someone is waiting . . .

After a traumatic birth, Lauren is alone on the maternity ward with her newborn twins. Her husband has gone home. The nurses are doing their rounds. She can’t stop thinking about every danger her babies now face. But all new mothers think like that. Don’t they?

A terrifying encounter in the middle of the night leaves Lauren convinced someone or something is trying to steal her children. But with every step she takes to keep her babies safe, Lauren sinks deeper and deeper into paranoia and fear. From the stark loneliness of returning home after birth, to the confines of a psychiatric unit, Lauren’s desperation increases as no one will listen to her. But here’s the question: is she mad, or does she know something we don’t?

My verdict
Little Darlings is a very disturbing read and one that sent shivers up and down my spine. That's partly because of the subject matter (the disappearance of twin boys - every mother's nightmare) but also the unsettling nature of the writing and the plot.

Lauren is a typical new parent - exhausted and paranoid, worrying about her newborns at every moment and desperate for some sleep. She's convinced that someone is trying to steal her babies, after a bizarre, terrifying experience at the hospital, but no one will believe her. Is it really just a new mother's paranoia or is there something more sinister going on? When Lauren's babies go missing and are then found and returned to her, she's adamant that these aren't her boys at all. I certainly had no idea whether this was real or a fabrication of Lauren's fragile mind.

Little Darlings combines crime, fairytales and the supernatural. It's a slowburner, with great writing, and tension that escalates as the plot moves forwards. It taps into every emotion and is both terrifying and heartbreaking. The ending is slightly ambiguous - not enough to leave me hanging, but certainly with enough mystery to make me wonder, question and think.

Authors' Creative Pursuits - Louise Mangos

Authors are a very creative bunch - and for many of them, this isn’t only with words on the page. From drawing to painting, pottery to needlework, composing to singing, here’s a look at some authors’ creative pursuits.

I am delighted to welcome 

LOUISE MANGOS

AUTHOR OF STRANGERS ON A BRIDGE, PUBLISHED BY HQ DIGITAL ON 6 JULY 2018

TO TALK ABOUT HER LOVE OF PAINTING

Have you always been creative – and not just with words? 

Before I could write, my creativity involved sketching ponies at the kitchen table from morning until night. I loved to draw with coloured pencils. Since I could spell my name I’ve always wanted to write. My first successfully published endeavour was a poem about my mum for mother’s day when I was eleven years old. It won a school competition and was published in our local paper. 

Have you always enjoyed painting or is this a more recent hobby of yours? If it's a more recent hobby, did you start it for any particular reason?

I was introduced to acrylic paints in my mid-twenties. Then there was no looking back. I tried oil paints for a while, but was put off by the lengthy drying time between the stages of ‘layering’ my work and the smell of turpentine around the house. Since my free time is taken up with fewer sporting activities now that I’m getting older, I spend more time writing and painting.

How often do you paint and how easy is it to find the time?

I have a fixed time that I paint with a mentor once a week for a three-hour session. Otherwise I fit my painting at home around my writing. If I didn’t have the obligation of painting with my mentor I probably wouldn’t have the motivation to do it regularly. I can, on the other hand, always find time to write ;o)

Do you do any other arts and crafts?
I’ve always been crafty. I loved to make gifts for my family from Blue Peter ideas when I was a child. I also enjoyed sewing for a few years, and made some money designing fun fleece hats for kids. I make my own Christmas and birthday cards, have done some decoupage and love photography. I often walk with a camera to capture images for my next painting project. I worked in our local Swiss school in a volunteer capacity for a few years, mainly to teach the kids extra English, and ended up using crafting projects to make the learning more exciting.

Do you think painting (or the time you spend painting) helps with your writing and overall wellbeing?  

Painting and writing fiction go hand in hand. They both involve creating images, the first with colour and the second with words. Voltaire said ‘Writing is the painting of the voice.’

Do you enjoy painting anything in particular?

My favourite subjects are landscapes, particularly those with mountains, clouds and water. I feel so blessed living in Switzerland where these three elements are in daily abundance.

What have you been painting recently?

I’ve recently finished a painting of autumn leaves on one of the cobbled-stone streets in our village. You can see the progress of the work through the three images. 

 

 

THANKS FOR TAKING PART, LOUISE!

About LOUISE MANGOS

Louise writes novels, short stories and flash fiction, which have won prizes, placed on shortlists, and been read out on BBC radio. Her debut psychological thriller Strangers on a Bridgeis published today, July 6^thby HQDigital (Harper Collins). Louise lives on an Alp with her Kiwi husband and two sons.

Find Louise Mangos on her website here and on Twitter - @LouiseMangos

I'm hoping to feature more Authors' Creative Pursuits

on Off-the-Shelf Books in the future. 

So if you're a published author and have a talent for arts and crafts, music, photography, baking or other creative activities, and would like to feature on my blog, please do get in touch!

The Cliff House by Amanda Jennings

The Cliff House
By Amanda Jennings
Published by HQ Stories (17 May 2018)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

Some friendships are made to be broken

Cornwall, summer of 1986.

The Davenports, with their fast cars and glamorous clothes, living the dream in a breathtaking house overlooking the sea.

If only… thinks sixteen-year-old Tamsyn, her binoculars trained on the perfect family in their perfect home.

If only her life was as perfect as theirs.

If only Edie Davenport would be her friend.

If only she lived at The Cliff House…

My verdict
I'm a huge fan of Amanda Jennings' books - her exquisite prose, amazing sense of place and sharp believable dialogue. The Cliff House is yet another stunning read - a superb psychological thriller that will stay with you afterwards.

This is a story of parental love and families, mother-daughter relationships, jealousy, grief and possession. It looks at the devastating aftermath of tragedy, and how easily our experiences and memories can be distorted by our own thoughts and also by the people around us. This book is very much about ownership, of places as well as people, and a reminder that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

The Cliff House is chilling from the start, with a sense of impending doom. I could guess how it was going to end - but had no idea who, what, how or why. This book reminded me not to believe everything that's on the page, and that you often have to read between the lines, as well as the words themselves, to really get to the heart of what's going on.

Amanda Jennings' gorgeous, vivid descriptions made me believe I was there in Cornwall, swimming in that pool overlooking the sea. While the book is very much character-led, its title 'The Cliff House' is also very apt, as the house has a significant influence on the lives (and interactions) of all of the main characters. I didn't actually realise how much the characters had touched me until I noticed tears in my eyes at the end.

The Devil's Dice by Roz Watkins

The Devil's Dice 
By Roz Watkins
Published by HQ Stories (8 March 2018)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher through Lovereading.

Publisher's description

A SHOCKING DEATH

A lawyer is found dead in a Peak District cave, his face ribboned with scratches.

A SINISTER MESSAGE

Amidst rumours of a local curse, DI Meg Dalton is convinced this is cold-blooded murder. There's just one catch – chiselled into the cave wall above the body is an image of the grim reaper and the dead man's initials, and it's been there for over a century.

A DEADLY GAME 

As Meg battles to solve the increasingly disturbing case, it's clear someone knows her secrets. The murderer is playing games with Meg – and the dice are loaded…

My verdict
On starting The Devil's Dice, I thought the book was going to be a straightforward police procedural. But this is no ordinary case and certainly stands out from the crowd. It involves supernatural curses and the mysterious death of a lawyer, found in a Peak District cave.

DI Meg Dalton is a strong feisty protagonist with lots of attitude. A risk-taker prone to injury and with plenty of flaws, she definitely doesn't play by the rules. And this often gets her into trouble with her superiors and colleagues. As Meg tries to solve the case, everything begins to feel a little too personal, bringing back memories of tragedy in her own family's past.

The Devil's Dice is a very twisty mystery with plenty of cliffhangers, particularly in the last 100 or so pages. I read the final chapters in one sitting, barely moving, and found myself holding my breath as everything was revealed through several action-packed scenes in a very chilling setting.

Overall, I thought The Devil's Dice was fun and easy to read, with a clever thought-provoking plot. I'm looking forward to the next Meg Dalton book.

White Bodies by Jane Robins

White Bodies
By Jane Robins
Published by HQ Stories (28 December 2017)
I received an Advance Review Copy from the publisher and through Lovereading 

Publisher's description

Callie loves Tilda. She’s her sister, after all. And she’s beautiful and successful.

Tilda loves Felix. He’s her husband. Successful and charismatic, he is also controlling, suspicious and, possibly, dangerous. Still, Tilda loves Felix.

And Callie loves Tilda. Very, very much.

So she’s determined to save her. But the cost could destroy them all…

Sometimes we love too much.

My verdict
White Bodies certainly played with my mind, turning this into an addictive read. How well do you know the people you love? Do you really know what they're thinking? Is everything you see on the surface real?

This is a story about twin sisters who are as different as they can possibly be. Callie has always been obsessed with Tilda, recording everything about her sister's life in a secret dossier. When Tilda meets Felix, Callie becomes worried that he's too controlling and is determined to set her sister free.

The writing is chilling, sharp and very readable, although Callie seemed very young for her age (mid-20s) and the sisters' behaviour felt more like that of teenagers than adults in places. I suspect that this was a consequence of their strange sibling relationship. Some of Callie's childhood behaviour is shocking and even disgusting, so readers be warned that you may cringe in places.

The book does cover some dark themes, in particular centred around family relationships, mental health, manipulation, obsessive behaviour and domestic abuse. Yet it also has a fun element to it as well. The plot is very very twisty. I did predict a few things, I admit. Yet I found it hard to tear myself away from the story of Callie and Tilda and Felix who comes between them.

I reckon White Bodies will divide opinion - a book that readers will love or hate. I personally found it to be highly entertaining.

Sweetpea by CJ Skuse

Sweetpea
By CJ Skuse
Published by HQ (2 November 2017)
I bought the Kindle version with Audible narration

Publisher's description

The last person who called me ‘Sweetpea’ ended up dead…

I haven’t killed anyone for three years and I thought that when it happened again I’d feel bad. Like an alcoholic taking a sip of whisky. But no. Nothing. I had a blissful night’s sleep. Didn’t wake up at all. And for once, no bad dream either. This morning I feel balanced. Almost sane, for once.

Rhiannon is your average girl next door, settled with her boyfriend and little dog…but she’s got a killer secret.

Although her childhood was haunted by a famous crime, Rhinannon’s life is normal now that her celebrity has dwindled. By day her job as an editorial assistant is demeaning and unsatisfying. By evening she dutifully listens to her friend’s plans for marriage and babies whilst secretly making a list.

A kill list.

From the man on the Lidl checkout who always mishandles her apples, to the driver who cuts her off on her way to work, to the people who have got it coming, Rhiannon’s ready to get her revenge.

Because the girl everyone overlooks might be able to get away with murder…

My verdict
I think my #BookLove2017 banner for Sweetpea sums up my thoughts. This was the first audiobook I had listened to properly without reading the book first. And it was the perfect choice. I didn't have time to write a full review at the time, so felt compelled to create this banner instead, adding it to my #BookLove2017 tweets.

Sweetpea is a devilishly dark comedy, filled with outrageous humour and some explicit descriptions. This is certainly not a book for the faint-hearted or easily offended. I loved every minute of it - and every word.

I listened to the audiobook while I was out and about walking and had some very odd looks from passersby as I couldn't stop laughing! I have been known to read a Kindle while out walking but there was no way I could have read Sweetpea while on the move. I would have walked into every lamppost and every vehicle and would probably have been run over in the process.

Rhiannon, the female serial killer protagonist, has such a distinctive compelling 'voice'. She's sharp, witty, sarcastic, highly critical of others (to the point of wanting most people dead) and a psychopath, which she readily admits in her head (though not to anyone out loud, obviously). I found myself rooting for Rhiannon, even though I really shouldn't do so, as she's certainly not a 'people person'.

I loved all of the other characters too - even the ones I probably wasn't meant to love. I believe that this was a direct consequence of listening to the audiobook. While the words on the page were the same as the ones I listened to, Sweetpea was brought to life brilliantly by the narrator, Georgia Maguire. Georgia was perfect for the job, with her different voices and accents for every character. I had planned to listen to the whole audiobook but I switched to the Kindle version at around 70% because my listening time was more limited over the festive season. When I switched back to the Kindle version, it was Georgia's voices that I heard in my head.

If you're looking for an audiobook equivalent of 'a book you can't put down', this is the one to choose! Sweetpea is unique and brilliant! It's also gruesome and disturbing! And I need more!!!

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

All Is Not Forgotten

By Wendy Walker
Published by HQ Stories  (E-book - 12 July 2016; Hardback - 14 July 2016)
ISBN: 978-1785770524

Publisher's description

You can erase the memory. But you cannot erase the crime.

Jenny’s wounds have healed.

An experimental treatment has removed the memory of a horrific and degrading attack.

She is moving on with her life.

That was the plan. Except it’s not working out.

Something has gone. The light in the eyes. And something was left behind. A scar. On her lower back. Which she can’t stop touching.

And she’s getting worse.

Not to mention the fact that her father is obsessed with finding her attacker and her mother is in toxic denial.

It may be that the only way to uncover what’s wrong is to help Jenny recover her memory. But even if it can be done, pulling at the threads of her suppressed experience will unravel much more than the truth about her attack.

My  verdict

All Is Not Forgotten has a fascinating, clever and compelling plot. What if you could forget a particular traumatic time in your life? Something that could have a major impact on you. But while your mind has forgotten, what if your body hasn't? What if somewhere in the back of your mind, the memories remain? What if you then let those memories back to find the perpetrator of the crime?

But what if it's not you this has happened to - what if it's your child? Would you let them take the pill that will make them forget their past? And then would you be prepared to let them remember it all over again?

The novel is narrated by a psychiatrist who is involved with Jenny and her family, trying to help them put their lives back together. It's a slow burner but the pace and tension gradually build up. It's clear that Jenny's rape has a major impact on her whole family. And, as expected, they are all struggling to cope with the aftermath.

All Is Not Forgotten is horrifying in the way it gets right inside your mind. I loved the psychology and science background, focusing on memories and the imprint they leave behind.  This is a shocking and highly thought-provoking read, and I sat thinking about it for some time after I finished the final page, with my head buzzing.

I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Click here for a guest post by Wendy Walker about her journey to publication.

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