Susan Roebuck's Blog

The brilliant Catherine Cavendish is a frequent visitor to my blog. And rightly so because I just adore her books.

She's recently published "The Haunting of Henderson Close", an exciting, if spooky, novel set in Edinburgh.

Here's the blurb:

Ghosts have always walked there. Now they're not alone.

In the depths of Edinburgh, an evil presence is released.
Hannah and her colleagues are tour guides who lead their visitors along the spooky, derelict Henderson Close, thrilling them with tales of spectres and murder. For Hannah it is her dream job, but not for long. Who is the mysterious figure that disappears around a corner? What is happening in the old print shop? And who is the little girl with no face?
The legends of Henderson Close are becoming all too real. The Auld De'il is out - and even the spirits are afraid.


And here's my review

Whenever I pick up a book by Catherine Cavendish I know what to expect - a great story that'll keep me coming back for more, straightforward prose and characters so realistic, I can picture them perfectly - it's like putting your feet into cosy slippers. Except at least one of the slippers will have something horrible in it, like a cockroach or...a demon! The Haunting of Henderson Close is initially populated by everyday characters going about their business - this time as guides in haunted Edinburgh. With perfect timing, the story heats up with Hannah (the main character) regressing to nineteenth century Henderson Close and other guides - and even tourists - seeing supernatural beings, much to their horror. The plot rolls along effortlessly, keeping the reader enjoying Edinburgh before horrifying him/her with a glimpse of an awful demon. Cliffhangers kept me wondering if Miss Carmichael's murder was going to get solved and whether the main characters would survive it. As usual, this is a story perfectly told and a book well worth reading. Ms Cavendish never disappoints.

I'll say no more because Catherine is visiting this blog TOMORROW and will be telling us about the Knights Templar, the Da Vinci Code and Haunted Rosslyn Chapel. Hang onto your hats and come back tomorrow!

In the meantime here's where you can find Catherine: https://www.catherinecavendish.com/
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And you can find "The Haunting of Henderson Close" on Amazon
See you tomorrow.

 My publisher, Crooked Cat Books, has a grand Halloween Book Sale between 30th and 1st October. So many books now reduced to 99p or 99c.



My books, "Joseph Barnaby" and "Forest Dancer" are both reduced, and you might enjoy them. 


Here's an extract from "Joseph Barnaby": 

The first chapter:
The noise level in The Rose and Crown pub grew in proportion to the amount the clientele drank, but Joe Barnaby’s father managed to make himself heard as he shouted, “My son is the best farrier in the business.”Joseph Barnaby laughed and raised his glass. “And what my dad doesn’t know about horse farming isn’t worth knowing.” There was a cheer, then a brief lull as glasses chinked and someone threw a bag of nacho chips in the air, which was a signal for the noise to start up again.“He sure is,” one of the farmers cried, joining Joe and his father at their table. “And make sure you’re at my stables tomorrow at nine, young Joe! You need to renew the hoof dressings you put on the bay the other day.”“It’s in my diary,” Joe confirmed. “And the chestnut’s hooves are due for trimming too.” He picked up his pint of beer and downed it. He had the best job in the world, he decided: great friends and clients, and the opportunity to work all day in the beautiful countryside with his favourite animal. A stud-farmer Joe had worked with came over and spoke to him. “My grandson wants to be a farrier. Could he come out with you one day?” “Sure. But tell him he’ll have to deal with everything, from sombre, heavy-footed brewery horses to skittish, highly valuable racehorses who could explode into a nervous rage at any moment.”The man nodded his understanding. “They can hurt themselves when they spook, can’t they?”“And me. I’m talking from experience, here, mind. I’ve had enough kicks up the backside to last me a lifetime. Sometimes a nervous horse can turn you as vulnerable as a crash-dummy. Tell your grandson that, and then see if he still wants to come.”Joe was chatting to a farmer who’d been one of his customers for years about the merits of one vet over another when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to face a man he thought he should know, but couldn’t put a name to. The man’s squashed-in face was familiar. He was a little shorter than Joe, but blonder, and he had a red goatee. He smiled, showing long yellow teeth that would look better on a horse. What was his name? “Bobby Shaw.” The man stuck his calloused hand out. Joe hoped his eyes weren’t popping in surprise. TheBobby Shaw. Not from Joe’s area, certainly, but famous in the farrier world – not only because he part-owned one of the biggest thoroughbred race-horse training stables in the area, but also because he was trainer to Starlight, the champion thoroughbred steeplechaser, who’d recently romped home a good thirty yards ahead of his rivals to win the Champions Cup for the third time in a row.“Can we talk outside?” Shaw gestured with his head at the door. “Quieter.”“Sure.” Joe followed him out, saying, “It’s good to meet you.”Outside, lit by the glow from the pub, Shaw licked his lips. The guy’s permanent grin was weird, Joe thought.“Mutual,” Shaw said, finally responding to Joe’s greeting. He studied Joe’s features as if committing them to memory, and the grin made it look as if he found them amusing. “Looks like you’ve built up a good network here,” Shaw remarked.“Can’t complain.”“When I walked into the pub tonight I only came in for a quiet drink. Didn’t know I’d get to meet a farrier. I’d never heard of you before, but I’ve spoken to a couple of guys here tonight who say you’re a quiet character who likes to get on with the job. Someone who doesn’t meddle, if you get my meaning.”Joe wasn’t sure he did get his meaning, so he kept quiet.“Someone who can be trusted. Also hear you mainly work with farm horses but you do have some dealings with thoroughbreds.”“Yes,” Joe admitted. “I do. Not many, but I can handle them if needs be.” He was curious. Surely this man from the country’s most famous thoroughbred racehorse training farm wasn’t going to ask him to check Starlight’s hooves? “Thing is,” Shaw said, looking around him as if he wanted to make sure no-one could hear him. “We have a little problem.”Joe made a sound he hoped conveyed sympathy and wondered, again, what this had to do with him.“Grand National is coming up, and I need a farrier.”Joe considered saying that was very careless of him, but decided against it. “I’m sorry about that. What happened to your regular one?”Shaw shrugged. “They come and go.”Could have been an illegal worker who took off, Joe thought. These things happened, although he’d have expected more from this stables.“You interested in giving a hand with three horses? They’re the ones the other farrier was working with, and they’re running in the hurdles at Kempton Park next week.”Interested? Who’d say they weren’t interested in working for the Norchester yard? “You won’t be working with Starlight. I cater for all his needs, and these three you will be working on are rank outsiders in their next races. So nothing fancy expected of them. But,” Shaw waggled his head, “if you do a good job, keep your head down, mind your own business, you might find it worth your while.”How could he refuse?After they’d fixed for Joe to be at the stables in a couple of days’ time, Shaw headed for the exit, leaving Joe to ponder on the fact that if this job led to regular appointments (or, please God, a contract), then Joe’s career would rise like Starlight leaping the The Chair at Aintree racecourse. When Joe returned on his own to the pub, the stud-farmer who’d talked about his grandson spending the day with him, came up to him. His face was grim as he said, “Saw you talking to Shaw. Just watch your back. OK?”

(The rest of the novel is set in beautiful Madeira Island - on this place (a fajã))


"Forest Dancer" is also reduced. Instead of Madeira Island, this book is set in the wooded hills just outside Lisbon, Portugal - in Sintra. 

Here's the blurb:

Work to impress, dance to express.

It’s a long way to go to create a new life for yourself.

Classical ballerina, Flora Gatehouse, has no choice but to take a risk. Having failed an important ballet audition in London, she moves to a small cottage in a forest just outside Lisbon, Portugal, her only inheritance following her father’s death. 

Soon, Flora is involved in village life, where fate takes a new twist when she becomes attracted to forest ranger, Marco. But they are off to a shaky start.

Can Flora find acceptance in a foreign land, in a magical place that harbours secrets and heartache?


The books can be found here:  mybook.to/ForestDancer1
                                 
                                                mybook.to/JosephBarnaby1

Talented dark fantasy / thriller / horror author, Catherine Cavendish, is always welcome on my blog. I love her books - they're spooky but so well written and easy to read, even if you do keep the light on at night for a few days. I'm so happy to announce that "Damned by the Ancients" (book 3 in the series "Nemesis of the Gods") has just been launched.  You can get your copy here. (I've got mine and I'll be reviewing it soon). In the meantime, over to Catherine:
The Many Ghosts of Penrhyn Old Hall




In my novel, Damned by the Ancients, the magnificent house inhabited by the Mortimer family is haunted by the evil and long dead former owner, Dr. Emeryk Quintillus. Dead he might be, but he is certainly not resting in peace. Quintillus knows a new family has moved in and he has designs on them. Ones which will terrify and threaten their lives and souls.
Wales has a well-deserved reputation as a land of myths and legends. It is also a ghost-hunter’s paradise, with so many haunted locations to choose from. Today, I am focusing my attention on Penrhyn Old Hall near Llandudno. This is now a public house and restaurant, proud of its ghostly heritage – so much so that it holds regular paranormal evenings.
The Hall gets its first mention in 1327 although these days, most of the building dates from Tudor times. It has a number of ghosts who wander its rooms and corridors.


In a room above the Baronial Hall, a monk has been seen on a number of occasions. He also ventures out into the passage. A young girl haunts the stairway. She is a descendant of the Pugh family who owned the house in the 16thcentury. They were a strict Catholic family who harboured renegade priests during times of persecution of the Catholic clergy and faith. In the Tudor bar, the fireplace hides a priest hole where they would have hidden when suspicious soldiers arrived. At one point, Robert Pugh and a priest named William Davies fled for their lives to the nearby headland known as the Little Orme. They lived in a cave there and smuggled in a printing press. Here they could print Catholic literature. Their cave home was raided in 1587 but they managed to evade capture, finally being caught in Holyhead in 1592. Pugh escaped but Davies was convicted of being a Catholic priest and was hanged, drawn and quartered. Many years later, a withered hand was discovered in a hidden case at Penrhyn Old Hall. It is presumed to be that of William Davies – maybe he is the one who haunts the upstairs room?
Given such firm Catholic convictions, imagine then the family’s distress on finding out that one of the daughters wanted to marry a Protestant. Worse than that she planned to elope with him, knowing her family’s displeasure. Even worse than that. She was pregnant. Clearly she had to be stopped. Her sisters did so – by killing her. No wonder she hasn’t left.
In the seating area of the Function Room, sits a young man in a perpetually foul mood who reacts badly if disturbed, while on the dance floor is a soldier who was injured and unable to return to the war. He is not happy about it.
Beside a fireplace in the Tudor Bar, an old lady sits, then stands and ascends the stairs.
Also in residence in the restaurant, is the ghost of a mischievous boy who sprinkles salt on the tables. He is only one of a number of mischievous child spirits who like to cause a little mayhem.A paranormal investigation revealed the presence of a woman who stated that she lived there between 1750 and 1800, having arrived at the Hall when she became pregnant. According to the investigators, she didn’t appear to realise she was dead and appeared scared of two other ghosts alleged to have been in the room with her.
Outside the Hall, a lost and shadowy figure moves about so, all in all, you get a lot of ghosts for your money at Penrhyn Old Hall. You can find out more about this amazing building here. One thing is for sure, with all this activity, you’re never alone - even if the room you are standing in appears empty. Thankfully it appears the ghosts of Penrhyn Old Hall are mostly benevolent and pose no threat to anyone – as long as you don’t interfere with them. The same cannot be said for Emeryk Quintillus…

INFINITY IN DEATH

Vienna, 1908

Gabriele Ziegler is a young art student who becomes infatuated with charismatic archeologist Dr. Emeryk Quintillus. Only too late does she realize his true designs on her. He is obsessed with resurrecting Cleopatra and has retained the famed artist Gustav Klimt to render Gabriele as the Queen of the Nile, using ashes from Cleopatra’s mummy mixed with the paint. The result is a lifelike portrait emitting an aura of unholy evil . . .

Vienna, 2018

The Mortimer family has moved into Quintillus’s former home, Villa Dürnstein. In its basement they find an original Klimt masterpiece—a portrait of Cleopatra art scholars never knew existed. But that’s not all that resides within the villa’s vault. Nine-year-old Heidi Mortimer tells her parents that a strange man lives there.

Quintillus’s desire to be with Cleopatra transcends death. His spirit will not rest until he has brought her back from the netherworld. Even if he has to sacrifice the soul of a child . . .
Damned by the Ancients is available from:
AmazonBarnes and NobleAppleGoogleKoboKensington Publishing
About the author:


Following a varied career in sales, advertising and career guidance, Catherine Cavendish is now the full-time author of a number of paranormal, ghostly and Gothic horror novels, novellas and short stories. Cat’s novels include the Nemesis of the Gods trilogy - Wrath of the Ancients, Waking the Ancients and Damned by the Ancients, plus The Devil’s Serenade, The Pendle Curse and Saving Grace Devine.
Her novellas include Linden Manor, Cold Revenge, Miss Abigail’s Room, The Demons of Cambian Street, Dark Avenging Angel, The Devil Inside Her, and The Second Wife.
She lives with her long-suffering husband, and a black cat who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue. Cat and her family divide their time between Liverpool and a 260-year-old haunted apartment in North Wales.
You can connect with Cat here:
 Catherine CavendishFacebookTwitterGoodreads



   

Joan Livingston, author of the fabulous Isabel Long PI series, lives in the United States. But, she told me, she has a Portuguese background. So before we get onto her new book "Redneck's Revenge", here's her article entitled "Portuguese Forever" in which she talks about herself and her lovely main character in the series, Isabel Long:

Portuguese ForeverI am a hundred percent Portuguese and proud of it. My grandparents came over on the boat, as they say, from the Madeira and Azores islands. The same is true for Isabel Long, the protagonist of my mystery series, including the latest, Redneck’s Revenge. She’s proud of her heritage as well.Isabel was born with the last name Ferreira but took Long when she married. I used Ferreira because that’s my mother’s family name. (My father’s family name is Medeiros.)Let me tell you a little bit about her. Isabel was a long-time journalist who lost her job as a newspaper’s managing editor when it went corporate. With time on her hands, she decided to solve a missing person’s case — her first big story as a rookie reporter. The case also happened in the tiny hilltown where Isabel lives in rural Western Massachusetts. Also, Isabel was also coming off a bad year that included the death of her husband. She was ready to reinvent herself.Her mother, Maria Ferreira also moved in with her. Here, I’ll let Isabel tell you about it.Ma moved in with me last year because she was tired of living alone. I was alone, too, after my Sam died. Our three kids, Ruth, Matt, and Alex, are out of the house although they don’t live too far from me. It’s worked out well with Ma. She’s a fun companion. Who would have thought when I was younger and wilder? She’s a good cook, and like the fine Portuguese woman she is, she keeps me in kale soup, a staple of our people. Yes, Long is my married name. Ferreira is the name I got at birth. I’m a hundred percent Portagee and proud that I’ve invaded a Yankee stronghold in the hilltowns. Yes, kale soup or Caldo Verde is a staple in their household, as it is mine, at least in the cold weather months. I love other dishes when I can get them, usually when I visit my hometown.As a child I grew up in Southeastern Massachusetts, where many Portuguese immigrants settled. They found work on the fishing boats and in the case of my mother’s parents, the textile mills. It was a huge adjustment from the rural lives they once led “back home” although both sets of grandparents kept animals and large gardens to support their families. I have fond memories of the time I spent with them.Let me tell you about my grandmother, Angela Ferreira. She was the youngest of a large family in Madeira. Her older sister worked for a wealthy family who wanted a companion for their daughter, so my grandmother went to live with them. Every day she carried the girl’s books to school and waited in the back of the room until they went home to play. One day the teacher caught her trying to read. She got permission for my grandmother to go to school. When my grandmother was sixteen, she and her sister went by boat to the U.S., a trip that included a huge storm in which people were swept out to sea. I admire my grandmother’s bravery.My childhood was a mixture of celebrating our heritage, especially at local feasts, still going strong in the New Bedford area, to being as American as possible. I will admit there is a lot of me in Isabel Long. She’s sassy and savvy. She doesn’t take crap from anybody. She’s got a good heart and cares. Plus she has that arsenal of skills she acquired as a journalist. All of this comes in handy for her second case, in Redneck’s Revenge. A woman hires her to find out how her father, an ornery so-and-so, died. The cops say he was passed-out drunk when his house caught fire. She says he was murdered.But before she can take any case, Isabel has some business to attend to after the cops tell her there are legal requirements if she wants to be a P.I. She’s also a bit ungrounded after solving her first case — for personal and professional reasons. Here’s an excerpt.Mostly, I moped.Ma noticed it, too.“When are you going to find something to do?” she asked me one day.“What do you mean?”“Like when you solved that mystery.”“You heard what the state cop said about getting a license,” I reminded her. “I need to find a licensed P.I. to take me on.”“What’s stopping you?”Ma had a point. I have a hard head and an iron will. I suppose I’m generalizing when I say it’s because I’m a full-blooded Portagee. But I’m descended from people who went all over the world in tiny wooden ships. My grandparents came over from the Madeira and Azores islands in them.
Yes, try stopping us.
Thank you Joan! What a lovely story about your grandmother. In the book, I just loved Isabel and her mother's wonderful relationship. Let's get onto "Redneck's Revenge". It's the second in the series - the first being "Chasing the Case" (see HERE ).  First the summary :  Her next case. She’s in it for good.
Isabel Long is in a funk months after solving her first case. Her relationship with the Rooster Bar’s owner is over. Then cops say she must work for a licensed P.I. before working solo.
Encouraged by her Watson — her 92-year-old mother  — Isabel snaps out of it by hooking up with a P.I. and finding a new case.
The official ruling is Chet Waters, an ornery so-and-so, was passed out when his house caught fire. His daughter, who inherited the junkyard, believes he was murdered. Topping the list of suspects are dangerous drug-dealing brothers, a rival junkyard owner, and an ex-husband. Could the man’s death simply be a case of redneck’s revenge? Isabel is about to find out.
  MY REVIEW

Redneck’s Revenge is a novel that will stay with you for a long time. Well, it will with me because I rank it up there with Fanny Flagg’s “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café”, one of my favourite books, and that’s not because “Redneck’s Revenge” is set in a café or that there’s any sign of green tomatoes, hell, it’s not even the same genre. It’s because of the author’s brilliant voice, the way she lets the characters jump off the page: they’re so real, quirky and unforgettable. You have rednecks galore (I hope that’s not pejorative because I adored reading about the folk of the small hilltop towns in Massachusetts – the Old Farts, the junkyard owners, the bar owners…so many) but my favourite is Isabel Long herself – a sassy, adorable, down-to-earth but take-no-prisoners type of gal (see? I picked up the lingo) who has a mother as wise and courageous as Isabel.I was immersed in the setting, which comes alive with the characters and as the story continues. The ending was a surprise, although I did pick up a hint of it earlier in the story, but dismissed it. Very clever plot.

Joan Livingston is a professional journalist and this shows in her excellent style of writing. She’s a born fiction writer and I dearly look forward to the next Isabel Long case.

Definitely a 5 star read and thoroughly recommended.


All about Joan:


Joan Livingston Bio Joan Livingston is the author of novels for adult and young readers. Redneck’s Revenge, published by Crooked Cat Books, is the second in the mystery series featuring Isabel Long, a longtime journalist who becomes an amateur P.I. The first is Chasing the Case. An award-winning journalist, she started as a reporter covering the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. She was an editor, columnist, and most recently the managing editor of The Taos News, which won numerous state and national awards during her tenure.
After eleven years in Northern New Mexico, she returned to rural Western Massachusetts, which is the setting of much of her adult fiction, including the Isabel Long series.
Joan Livingston on social media:
Website: www.joanlivingston.net. Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoanLivingstonAuthor/Twitter: @joanlivingston Instagram: www.Instagram.com/JoanLivingston_AuthorGoodreads: www.Goodreads.com/Joan_Livingston
Book links to Chasing the Case and Redneck’s Revenge:
http://mybook.to/chasingthecasehttp://mybook.to/rednecksrevenge

click image to buyWelcome, Angela and congratulations on your new novel, "Montbel" which comes out in November. Let's take a look at the blurb:

A clear-cut case? A re-examination of a closed police case brings investigator, Jacques Forêt, up against an old adversary. After the murder of a key witness, Jacques finds himself, and his team, being pursued.When a vital piece of evidence throws a completely different light on Jacques' case, his adversary becomes more aggressive, and Investigating Magistrate Pelletier threatens to sequester all of Jacques papers and shut down the investigation. Can Jacques find all the answers before Pelletier steps in?

Sounds very compelling - I'm off to pre-order it. (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Montbel-French-Murder-Mystery-Jacques-ebook/dp/B07GGGZYYD/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)
Here comes a few questions about it. Are you comfy? Off we go, then:
Sue: I know "Montbel" is the third in the series starring delightful investigator Jacques Forêt. I described him in my review of the first book in the series, Messandrierre, as“enjoyable, attractive character, with all the features that's expected of a French policeman: humour, determination, quirks.” Did I get him right, or is there more to him than that?
Angela: Yes, you did get him right and it's great to be able to say thank you in person for that lovely review too.  Jacques - what can I say about him?  I think  he's a great guy, he's honest and principled, but he still needs to settle down in his personal life.  And then there are those quirks - his grudging acceptance of computers, his dislike of lifts, and his repulsion of blood - which for an investigator handling murders can be a bit of a problem.  When I started thinking about what kind of man he would be I made some instant decisions - he had to have good manners, patience and be very astute. The rest of his character was built in the same as I build the characters I play on stage.  That means asking myself a lot of questions starting with the shoes.
Sue: What made you want to set your novels in France?
Angela: I don't recollect there being a conscious and deliberate decision to set my books in France.  But, I was travelling in the Cévennes (south central France) in September in 2007 when the weather dramatically changed overnight.  I woke up to freezing temperatures and a stunningly beautiful mountainous landscape covered in snow.  It got me thinking about how remote the area was and how easy it would be to use snow to cover someone's misdeeds.  I just jotted down some notes at the time.  About 4 years later, I was in Charente and having tea and cakes with some people I'd met in the local supermarket.  It was a chance remark during an innocent conversation that got me thinking about murder.  Some months after that I realised I had my crime and my location and that was when I started planning Messandrierre and the following three books in detail.  I've maintained the location, because it works and it is one of my favourite areas of France to visit, so I know it well.
Sue: I see in your reviews of “Merle”, the second in the series, that one reviewer said: “The BBC has given us a wide selection of tv detective dramas over the last few years - on BBC4 - and the career of Jacques Forêt would make a great addition to them. Producers please take note!” That’s wonderful. Who would you cast for your main characters?
Angela: Yes, that is a truly amazing accolade and I'm very grateful to that particular reviewer for saying so.  I'm still waiting for the call, though!  As for my cast - I haven't the least idea, but I would insist on the actor playing Jacques, having the right physicality.  He's tall and lean and he has a soft timber to his voice.  So Gerard Depardieu is absolutely out of the question.  Obviously, all the French characters would have to be French actors and little Pierre Mancelle would have to have a cheeky smile.  So, BBC, if you are reading this and want to make me an offer, just acknowledge up front that I will be doing the casting - OK
Sue: No, I don't think I can envision Gerard Depardieu. Let's give the BBC a shout-out! Tell us about your third novel, “Montbel” – perhaps a little excerpt?


What appears to be an open and shut case actually turns out to be something much more sinister and here's the opening section : 
la lettre

…families fracture, Monsieur Forêt. No one desires it or intends it, but it happens. A harsh, unforgiving word begets a rash and revengeful action, and a sliver of ice takes hold in a dark corner of the hearts of those at odds with each other. And there it wedges itself, the frost gradually deepening and destroying. One of us has to stop the cold, as this impasse can continue no longer. I have to put things right with my son, Monsieur…

june 3rd, 2011

Sue: Wow, that's beautiful prose. Finally, would you recommend your new readers to take the books in order, or can they be standalone novels?
Angela: Each story is a specific crime but there are themes that run through from one story to the next.  Where there is reference to something that happened in a previous story it is briefly explained.  And of course, the villagers in Messandrierre crop up on the other books too as Jacques frequently visits the village.  It's not essential to read them in order, but it linkages between the stories will be clearer if you do.

Thank you, Angela. I’m really looking forward to reading Montbel and I wish you every success.  
It's a pleasure, Sue, and thank you very much for inviting me to your blog today.
If you’d like to know more about the novels and author, here are her social media links:



Amazon : AngelaWren
Website : www.angelawren.co.ukBlog : www.jamesetmoi.blogspot.comFacebook : Angela WrenGoodreads : Angela WrenContact an author : Angela Wren

Born and bred in the soft south of the UK, author Susan Roebuck wrote a book for a school project and won a prize for it when she was fourteen.
The author lives in Portugal and knows most of the country.
She thinks the only impact teaching English as a foreign language had on her is that her grammar improved. The author writes whatever comes to her mind.
Her last two books have been set in Portugal: "Rising Tide" set in a fishing village in the Alentejo and "Forest Dancer" set in the woodlands outside Sintra, near Lisbon. In October 2018 "Joseph Barnaby" will be published and this is set in Madeira. Read full interview...

You don't hear me say this very often, but I've just read a dark (noir?) psychological thriller. Yes, me, the avid reader of romance and fantasy books.

I think it's due to the professional and talented writing of C.J. Sutton that kept me enthralled.

First, though, here's my review:

I'll be honest - this book scared the living daylights out of me, but I couldn't put it down! You can get the gist from the blurb already given, but it doesn't do the book justice. As I read I kept thinking that it was a different view of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' - Jasper making me think of McMurphy. Yet there were no redeeming or cosy characters here. I doubt you'd find a more insane group of people in one place at the same time. Even the doctor didn't seem to be "all there". I can't fault the quality of the writing, the way the author kept me glued to the pages, wanting to know more (and me a rom-com addict!), the depth of the characters - yes, you get into the most warped minds that you're unlikely to forget easily. What a book - it deserves to be listed amongst the best of psychological thrillers. Oh - and watch for the twists.

The author's blog states that "Dortmund Hibernate" is 'Silence of the Lambs meets Shutter Island' and I don't doubt that one little bit. What a great read and I can't wait for another one from this author, who has a degree in journalism and creative writing, because he certainly knows how to capture his reader.

Here's the blurb to the book:

Psychologist Dr Magnus Paul is tasked with the patients of Dortmund Asylum; nine criminally insane individuals hidden from the world due to the extremity of their cases. Magnus has six weeks to prove them sane for transfer to a maximum-security prison, or label them as incurable and recommend a death sentence under a new government act. The small rural town of Dortmund and its inhabitants are the backdrop to the mayhem on the hill. As Magnus delves into the darkness of the incarcerated minds, his own sanity is challenged. Secrets squeeze through the cracks of the Asylum, blurring the line between reality and nightmare. And the most notorious man of all is strapped to the floor of his cell, urging Magnus towards a new life of desire…

C.J. Sutton, who can be found on his blog here , has a new book coming next year (also published by Crooked Cat Books): 




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I'll be first in the queue for it!

Buy link: mybook.to/dortmundhibernate

Please welcome today fellow author who is published by Crooked Cat Books - Val Penny.She is an up-and-coming crime author (it's been said that her first book in The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries is "Up There with Ian Rankin").
Her first book, Hunter's Chase, was published this year and is receiving rave reviews.  

Now she has the second one in The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries about to be published: Hunter's Revenge. Let's have a look at it:


Hunter's Revenge Blurb
Hunter by name – Hunter by nature: DI Hunter Wilson will not rest until his friend's death is revenged.
DI Hunter Wilson is called to the scene of a murder. He is shocked to find the victim is his friend and colleague, George Reinbold. Who would want to harm the quiet, old man? Why was a book worth £23,000 delivered to him that morning? Why is the security in George's home so intense? Hunter must investigate his friend's past as well as the present to identify the killer and identify George's killer. Hunter also finds a new supply of cocaine from Peru flooding HMP Edinburgh and the city. The courier leads Hunter to the criminal gang but Hunter requires the help of his nemesis, the former Chief Constable, Sir Peter Myerscough and local gangster Ian Thomson to make his case. Hunter's perseverance and patience are put to the test time after time in this taught crime thriller. 



Prologue
East Germany, January 1968
            The last thing Georg did on his eighteenth birthday was kill a man.            He really hadn’t meant to kill the Stasi officer in front of him, but it was him or Georg – and Georg did not want to die. It was the first time he’d seen a corpse. The streets were slick with ice. The man lost his balance and cracked his head on the pavement. Georg stared down at the body: there was blood and brains all over the pavement. He looked into the officer’s eyes. They stared blindly to heaven, but Georg knew there wasn’t a Stasi officer on earth who was going there. He looked away from death and towards his friends in horror, but when they saw what had happened, they scattered. Georg picked up the officer’s gun and began to run.  More Stasi officers appeared as the boys fled.             Georg was out of breath when he got home.            “What’s the rush, son?” his father asked.            “Shit, Dad! It’s bad.”            “You’re drunk! No language in this house, boy,” said his grandmother.            “Dad, the boys and me were leaving the bar to come home and we saw a Stasi officer”            “So?”            “We were laughing and having fun.”            “And?”            “For a laugh I knocked his hat off.”            “Idiot! You know Stasi have no sense of humour. Ever. So what next?”            “He pulled his gun and told us to stand silently against the wall.”            “And you apologised and complied, I hope.”            “I panicked and punched him. He slipped on the ice and fell over. He hit his head on the ground, and when I checked him, he wasn’t breathing. He was dead. I just took his gun and ran.”            The silence in the room was deafening.             “You did what? You fucking idiot! Did you really punch a Stasi officer? Are you mad? You know we don’t even have to openly engage in resistance to draw the attention of the Stasi and incur its retribution. Just failing to conform with mainstream society can be enough. Shit! I sired a fool.” Georg’s father’s red face reflected his rage.            “And now you are here,” his grandmother added. “You ran home, leading them straight to us. We will all die now. Thank you.”            “What is all the noise?” Georg’s mother came through from the kitchen, drying her hands on her apron. His twin sister Ingrid and younger brother Wilhelm followed her. They looked bewildered. Their father rarely raised his voice, especially not to Georg.            As his father explained the issues, Georg’s mother burst into tears.             “They will kill him,” she whispered.             “They’ll kill him?” his father shrieked “Fuck, the rest of us will be lucky if all they do is kill us too! Have you any idea the danger you have put this whole family in, you young imbecile?”            “God, that’s true!” his mother sobbed. “Georg has to leave. He must escape right away. Maybe, when they come and find him gone, they will believe we had no part of it.”            “You and I both know that is not going to happen,” his father said. “They know everybody in the town, and even if they don’t already know it was Georg, one of their informers will turn him in for reward or to save their own skin. They will soon find out where he lives.”            His wife nodded.            “Mum, where do I go?” Georg pleaded. “Dad, what will you do? I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just fooling around.”             “Then you are more of a fool than I ever thought,” his father said. “It’s a bit fucking late to worry about us. We will cope, but we must deny you and any knowledge of this atrocity. I love you always, but you must leave, son. Now. There is no choice, and you must be quick because they will be here all too soon. Make a start on your escape tonight. It’s your only hope, and ours.”             “Quick, Wilhelm, fetch him my savings and your grandfather Georg’s book,” said his grandmother. “Georg will need the money, and he can always sell the book.”            “I’ll pack a meal,” his mother said. She gathered up the family Bible, along with some bread, ham, cheese and apples.            “Don’t give him too much, it will slow him down,” said Ingrid.            “Pack everything in a rucksack. You can put it on your back, Georg, and still run,” said Wilhelm as he handed their grandmother’s meagre treasures to George.            “I am so sorry, Father. Where do I go? Where am I running to? What will happen to you?” Georg’s voice raised to a scream.             His mother held him and kissed his head, but his father grabbed his arm, pulled him from her and shook him.            “You got yourself into this; we will get you out of it. No point in worrying about us. Get out of this country. Don’t look back. Just run. Go west, go to Britain. Stay alive. Get out of this house, get out of my sight and never come back. Do you hear me, Georg?”
Thank you Val. As you've already gathered, her books are set in Edinburgh.







The Author Bio for Hunter's Revenge

Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats. She has a Law degree from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, lawyer, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer. However she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels. Her crime novels, 'Hunter's Chase' and Hunter's Revenge are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Crooked Cat Books. The third book in the series, Hunter's Force, follows shortly.




Author contact details
www.authorvalpenny.comwww.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739 www.facebook.com/groups/296295777444303 https://twitter.com/valeriepenny myBook.to/HuntersChase myBook.to/HuntersRevenge

Muchas gracias for hosting me on your blog today to talk about my brand new novel with Crooked Cat Books!
COSTA DEL CHURROS will launch on September 19th and is another romantic comedy which fuses all things foodie, travel and spirituality. I’m keeping my fingers (and paws!) crossed that it’ll have as good a reception as its predecessors…
De nada, Isabella - you're always welcome. Tell me, why write about Spain?
My first two books, Oh! What a Pavlova and The Cocktail Bar centred much of their activity around the quirky and mystical town of Glastonbury, UK.  But in actual fact I live in Spain nowadays and much as I relished the opportunity to write about the place where I spent my childhood through to late twenties, it was high time for a change of scene – as well as to prove to myself that I am not a One Trick Pony. Or should that be Cat?Thank God you're not (a One Trick Pony). Otherwise we'd never have got Oh! What a Pavlova or the Cocktail Bar. Is Costa del Churros based on a fictional or real part of Spain?
Yes, Costa del Churros refers to the Costa del Sol, here in the gigantic province of Andalusia, where I live. I have traveled all over the country, but nowhere seems to make, eat or embrace churros(friend donut strips, often eaten dipped in a thick, velvety chocolate sauce and/or sprinkled liberally with sugar) with the aplomb of the people in this region. The churros play a central role throughout the book, used as a code word that brings four – very different – women together for flamenco lessons with their highly exuberant teacher, Carmen.Here’s the blurb:The rain in Spain doesn't mainly fall on the plain…

Brits abroad Belinda, Julia, Laura and Georgina need more than the sweetness of churros with chocolate dipping sauce to save them from their unsavoury states of affairs.

Cue Carmen Maria Abril de la Fuente Ferrera, the town's flamboyant flamenco teacher! But can she really be the answer to their prayers?

One thing's for sure: the Costa del Sol will never be the same again.Are these four women based on people you know?
Not per se!
But Belinda, Julia, Laura and Georgina are definitely a beautiful fusion of some of the kaleidoscopically colourful characters I have met here over the past seven years. I wanted to paint a truthful picture of expat life in Spain (and quite possibly this will extend to other areas of The Mediterranean too). It’s all too easy to assume that a life in the sun is all soaking up its rays, sand, sea and sangria, but in actual fact, we take ourselves wherever we go! There’s absolutely no running away from your problems when you are home from home, be they romantic, financial, self-esteem based, or all of the above. Often, as soon as the novelty of the new lifestyle wears off, those issues are only exacerbated…
I thought it would make for an interesting (and comical) read to throw four women from four completely different backgrounds together, to add a little magic (a la Carmen) and to watch the fireworks – from a very safe distance.Tell us a bit about Carmen Maria Abril de la Fuente Ferrera…
Well, she was a joy to write.
And I think all of us could do with a Carmen in our lives. Not only is she a talented flamenco teacher, but she has watched the way Franco’s repression of the female has gnawed away at her mother, and at the lives of countless women around her. So Carmen’s mission is one of empowerment. And she’s particularly passionate about encouraging women to have their cake and eat it. Truly, I’d love for nothing more than to click my fingers and magic her up every time I witness a female friend or family member declare in a café/restaurant/gelateria ‘Oh! I really shouldn’t indulge… I’ll start the diet again next week!’
For Carmen is the antidote to any and all of that prescribed female behaviour, an advocate for positive body image on beaches and sun-loungers the length of the coast. She’s a breath of fresh air injecting a much-needed confidence boost to all four of the main characters in the story.  Thank you Isabella! Oh my ... I think churros are just about my favourite thing. Eaten warm with hot chocolate (in my case, on a cool Madrid winter morning) - heaven!Thank you for joining me today.
If your tummy has started to rumble… here’s that all important Universal Amazon buying link: mybook.to/costadelchurrosYou can find out about Isabella May’s other books, and follow her quirky cake and cocktail posts at these places:www.isabellamayauthor.com
Twitter - @IsabellaMayBksFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaMayA... - @isabella_may_author 
Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalucia, Spain with her husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the sea and the mountains. Having grown up on Glastonbury’s ley lines however, she’s unable to completely shake off her spiritual inner child, and is a Law of Attraction fanatic. Cake, cocktail, and travel obsessed, she also loves nothing more than to (quietly) break life’s ‘rules’.Costa del Churros is her third novel.