Having absolutely adored Frank & Red by Matt Coyne (reviewed here) and it being one of my books of the year in 2024 I genuinely let out a yelp of pleasure when a surprise copy of Matt’s second novel, The Trouble with Sister Francis arrived. I cannot thank enough Joe Thomas at Headline. It’s my pleasure to share my review of The Trouble with Sister Francis today.

Published by Wildfire on 27th August 2026, The Trouble with Sister Francis is available for pre-order through the links here. 

The Trouble With Sister Francis

Sister Francis is an unlikely nun.

She’s sixty, sweary, drives like a lunatic and smokes like a stacked chimney . . . and she runs the Blessed Assumption Boys Club.

Richie, Bennett, Kenny and Stan are four best friends from the Whittle council estate with little to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with local bullies, they discover the crumbling, forgotten club and find themselves in the company of the most remarkable person they will ever meet.

Set against early 1980s Britain, The Trouble with Sister Francis is a funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story of unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope.

And at the centre of it all lies a long-forgotten journal that might just change everything. 

My Review of The Trouble With Sister Francis

In the early 1980s, young lads Richie, Bennett, Kenny and Stan encounter Sister Francis.

I confess that having so utterly adored Matt Coyne’s first novel Frank & Red, I was apprehensive about The Trouble with Sister Francis. What if it didn’t live up to my expectations? It didn’t. It exceeded them! I completely adored this book too. I’m going to struggle to review it because I don’t want to give anything away and really just want to say ‘Buy the book because it’s brilliant…’ 

The 1980s setting is superb. The sweets, the music, the clothing, the vocabulary used by the lads attending the local church club, all of them combine into the most vivid sense of time. So too does the thread of The Journal of Reginald R. Hartfeld 1938-1941 [Abridged] which presents the life of an evacuee and gives an insight into the war years.

It is the bringing together of these two eras that is so compelling. As Rich, Kenny, Bennet and Stan find themselves drawn into Sister Francis’s orbit, the two time frames support some of the major themes of Matt Coyne’s story. He explores societal convention, a sense of duty and responsibility, and all manner of weighty concepts with the lightest of touches so that the reader fails to recognise the impact and importance of his story until it hits them hard in the solar plexus. However, the most profound aspects are the themes of friendship, belonging and home. Matt Coyne’s ability to convey meaning as well as entertainment is remarkable. Through fantastic humour – and I literally laughed until I cried, and couldn’t breathe, on more than one occasion – and heart-rending emotion – I wept inconsolably too – Matt Coyne entertains, educates and completely blindsides his readers. Truthfully, The Trouble with Sister Francis is one of my all time favourite reads. 

And what a person Sister Francis is. Her unconventional feisty nature, her quietly ironclad control and her hidden softness make her simply wonderful. She might be a nun, but she’s a rule breaker unafraid to turn a blind eye when necessary and so uncompromising on occasion that grown men quake in their boots when she has them in her sights. Reading about Sister Francis made me laugh and cry, but it also made me cheer aloud and fist bump the air even as she made me reflect on true humanity, compassion and empathy. Reading about Sister Francis does not leave the reader unchanged or emotionally unscathed. I’ll be thinking about her for a very long time. 

The characters are actually all stunning. Except for Father Sheridan and a couple of others whom I would quite cheerfully throttle, I think of them with such affection and fondness that it’s hard to grasp that they are not real people. It is impossible not to have your heart broken by Kenny. He put me in mind of so many of the underprivileged youngsters I taught in the past, as did all the boys, because Matt Coyne’s portrayal is so realistic. I thought Rick’s narrative voice was amazing. The story is presented through his adult lens and yet he loses nothing of his childhood perspective, making him all the more unforgettable and affecting. 

I know I’ve been somewhat vague in this review, but I cannot express emphatically enough how much I loved The Trouble with Sister Francis. Matt Coyne has created the most exquisite narrative. It’s hilariously funny. It’s realistic. It’s emotionally charged. It’s written with beautiful human understanding. The Trouble with Sister Francis is sheer perfection and I pity those who don’t get the chance to read it. Fantastic! 

About Matt Coyne

Man vs Baby’s Matt Coyne is from Sheffield, South Yorkshire.  In September 2015, Matt’s life was turned upside down by the arrival of his son Charlie. After three months of parenthood, he logged on to social media and wrote about his experience of having to live with ‘a furious, sleep-murdering, unstable and incontinent, breasts-obsessed midget lodger’. Within days, his post about surviving the first few months of parenthood was shared by millions all over the world.

Following this, Matt created his popular blog Man vs Baby, which now has over 370,000 followers on social media. And has written two Sunday Times bestselling books based on his parental triumphs and disasters, the first entitled: Dummy and the second Man vs Toddler.

He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph and GQ Magazine and has been Vuelio Parenting Influencer of the Year and Blogosphere Parent Influencer of the Year.

Matt lives in Sheffield with his son Charlie, his partner Lyndsay and a Jack Russell terrier with ‘issues’ called Eddie.

For further information, visit Matt’s website, follow him on Twitter/X @mattcoyney and find Matt on Facebook and Instagram.

My absolute gratitude to Caitlin McCoy at Harper Collins for sending me a surprise copy of The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson. I’m delighted to share my review of The Wild Beneath today.

The Wild Beneath will be published by HQ on 27th August 2026 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Wild Beneath

The pull of the land or the call of the sea…

Annie MacLeod always knew she was different, growing up on a sailboat, navigating by stars and swimming with sea creatures, alongside her best friend, Evan. But when a tsunami hits, Annie is stranded on land; her entire world, and her eccentric identity, torn apart and upended.

In the wreckage, she rescues a wordless man named Walker, who emits a hum only she can hear. Their connection is instant. Walker’s touch gives Annie visions of the ocean’s hidden world, a life she’s never known but feels inexplicably drawn to. Yet even as she is pulled toward him, Evan – the steadfast love who has always been there – remains on dry land, offering stability and security. Annie is torn between Evan’s grounding presence and Walker’s magnetic secrets. But then, Walker vanishes, along with the answers Annie needs about who she really is.

Six years later, Annie has left the sea and buried the past – until Walker returns, pulling her back towards the ocean and the life she abandoned. The truth has roots more ancient than she ever could have known, and Annie must confront a choice that will test her heart and determine her future.

A fierce and entrancing debut novel of one woman caught between two worlds that won’t let her go.

My Review of The Wild Beneath

A tsunami has shattered Annie MacLeod’s world.

This. This is exactly what a book should be. The Wild Beneath is utterly, utterly wonderful and I could not have loved it more. 

The plot of The Wild Beneath is mesmerising. I felt the pull of the narrative every moment I wasn’t reading so that my experience was akin to Annie’s experiences – she is pulled by the sea, by her relationships with Walker and Evan and by the sounds reverberating through her body. When I wasn’t reading The Wild Beneath, I was thinking about it. It permeated my thoughts continuously.

It’s impossible to categorise The Wild Beneath. In part it’s a magical fantasy, drawing on traditional fables of merfolk, in part it’s a love story and it’s also a coming of age narrative. Alongside these aspects The Wild Beneath is also an ecological story. But what it is above anything else, is an intangible, pulsating tale that is far, far greater than the sum of its parts. It is, quite simply, superb. 

Kelly Anderson’s prose is beautiful. With the briefest of sentences she conveys a profound depth of emotion. The writing is as fluid, varied and immersive as the sea against which the narrative is set. I adored the division of the story into the four phases of tides because it gave unity and coherence whilst allowing the wildness and capriciousness of the sea to be explored. Direct speech is natural and so engaging that it feels so intimate and real it is as if the reader is eavesdropping on the characters. The Wild Beneath is an absolute masterclass in emotive and immersive writing.

The characters are magnificent. Each is unable to be truly themselves, each needs to learn to listen not only to others, but to the universe, and, more importantly, to their own innermost pulse of life – to the wild beneath. Through Walker, Annie and Evan learn that listening skill. This is a story that illustrates how we can be true to ourselves. Walker is magical, mythical, magnificent. He is the drum beat at the heart of Annie. 

Annie is superbly depicted. She is every bit her mother’s daughter and yet she is as individual as it is possible to be. Her love for both Walker and Evan is as instinctive and raw as it is possible to be so that I had no idea how the story would resolve or whether I had the emotional strength to find out, whilst being unable to draw myself away. My heart ached for her.

Whilst I was completely captivated by Annie’s character development and the love story that surrounds her, other themes enthralled me too. In The Wild Beneath Kelly Anderson considers what constitutes family. Mara and Ruth have very different approaches to caring for Annie but it is obvious they are both doing their best within their own parameters.  Kelly Anderson looks at mental and physical health and how they are affected by lifestyle and pressure to work or conform, especially through Evan’s relationship with his father. She also considers the environment as the sea disgorges objects through the tsunami and Isaac logs the trees. These themes may sound ‘worthy’ but they are woven with such dexterity into the narrative they simply make it even more multi-layered and engrossing.

It’s impossible to articulate filly my views of The Wild beneath. I feel my review has barely scratched the surface. Metamorphic, magical and moving, The Wild Beneath is absolutely fantastic and I adored it unconditionally. What. A. Book. 

Read it and discover how to listen to the beat of your own essence!

About Kelly Anderson

Dr. Kelly Anderson is a family physician with fellowships in HIV and emergency medicine. She has worked extensively in rural and remote emergency departments, spent fifteen years at the Inner City Family Health Team at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, and built the clinical team at Felix Health. After completing the Bookends Novel Fellowship, she trained in the Gateless Writing Academy and is a certified Gateless writing teacher. Kelly spent much of her childhood in British Columbia, and now lives in Guelph, Ontario with her family. The Wild Beneath is her first novel.

For further information, visit Kelly’s website and find her on Instagram . 

My enormous thanks to both lovely Becky Hunter and the wonderful Caroline James for sending me surprise copies of The Nile Cruise. I was thrilled to read The Nile Cruise, particularly as a cruise from Luxor to Aswan was the first ‘exotic’ holiday we ever took.  It’s my absolute pleasure to share my review of The Nile Cruise today (aptly read on my most recent cruise). 

You’ll find Caroline featured on several other occasions here on Linda’s Book Bag.

The Nile Cruise was published by Harper Collins imprint Avon on 30th July 2026 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Nile Cruise

Will an adventure sailing The River Nile turn the tide for Hattie?

Hattie Mulberry is exhausted. Worn out from the demands of everyone around her, she’s long overdue a break. So, she decides to take a holiday – the adventure of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of her literary hero, Agatha Christie.

Before Hattie knows it, she’s embarking on a glamorous Nile cruise. Not only a voyage steeped in history and world-famous sights, but one where the passengers are almost as fascinating as the views from her luxurious cabin…

As the eclectic band of travellers journey between ancient temples and legendary tombs, guided by handsome Egyptologist Sam, secrets surface, desires awaken, and tensions simmer beneath the Egyptian sun.

Will the magic of moonlit nights on the Nile bring romance and renewal? Or will the infamous curse of Tutankhamun cast a shadow when least expected?

My Review of The Nile Cruise

Hattie is taking break. 

What an absolute pleasure to catch up with Hattie Mulberry as she escapes on a cruise along the Nile whilst Alf (and Drake) refurbish her ancient bathroom. I loved this book! 

Firstly, there is the meticulous research that must have gone into making the Egyptian setting so vivid and authentic. Caroline James transported me right back to my own Nile Cruise because the attention to detail; the heat, the tombs, the people and events, was so realistic it was as if I were aboard the SS Nefertari with Hattie. Anyone who has done this trip will have memories reignited by Caroline James and for those who’d love to go, The Nile Cruise takes the reader there brilliantly.

The plot is so entertaining. We learn about Egypt through carefully curated detail, but we also have a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance, a little bit of crime and a glorious injection of humour so that there’s enjoyment in The Nile Cruise on many, many levels. 

Hattie is utterly, utterly, fabulous being generous in all senses of the word. Amply sized with a big hearted attitude to others, her inner beauty is heightened in contrast to the superficial appearance of Anoushka. Through Hattie and the other guests aboard; Caroline James illustrates perfectly how our airbrushed Instagram world is unrealistic and frequently untrue. Instead, her characters feel real and relatable. This means that readers are given permission and confidence to be comfortable in their own skin even as they are being entertained by the narrative. 

Alongside the brilliant characters, the author explores themes that are incredibly relevant to today’s society. In the microcosm of the cruise boat, the reader contemplates identity, grief, love in later life, sexuality, adventure, marriage, parenthood and friendship. The Nile Cruise feels like a narrative written with truth and understanding. Whilst Peter provides humour, for example, the reasons behind his actions are profound and moving. 

I thought The Nile Cruise was a total smasher of a read. It entertained me thoroughly, made me laugh and moved me, and at the same time enhanced my own attitude to life, making me determined to enjoy every moment. How brilliant is that? 

About Caroline James

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including The Cruise, the Amazon Top Five & #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, and her eagerly anticipated follow-up novels, The Cruise Club, The Arctic Cruise and The Nile Cruise are out now.

Her novel Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure is described as “A heartwarming and uplifting read where the characters shine from the page.”

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing in her cosy writing retreat, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and refreshing swims in a local lake. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a champion of lifelong creativity.

For further information, visit Caroline’s website, follow her on X @CarolineJames12 and find Caroline on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. 

I cannot thank enough Mia Quibell-Smith at Vintage for sending me a surprise copy of The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary. As I explained to Sarah when we were chatting at Capital Crime, I saved The Drowning Place to take on a cruise! Thankfully I am able to share my review today.

It’s far too long since Sarah appeared here on Linda’s Book Bag.

The Drowning Place was published by Harvill on 16th April 2926 and us available for purchase through the publisher links here.

The Drowning Place

Every place has its ghosts.

Edenscar, a town in the Peak District, has more than most. 17 years ago, its inhabitants were hit by tragedy when a school bus veered off the road and everyone on board drowned. Everyone, that is, except Joseph Ashe. His miraculous survival has haunted him and the town ever since.

Now a Detective Sergeant in the local police, Joe is called to the scene of a brutal and apparently inexplicable crime. The whole town is spooked, but Joe’s new boss, DI Laurie Bower, more used to inner-city police work, has no time for superstition. She just wants to find the very real killer who has left no trace and apparently had no motive.

Joining forces, Joe and Laurie work to uncover the secrets of Edenscar, both past and present.

But when you dig up the dead, expect to get your hands dirty…

My Review of The Drowning Place

DI Laurie Bower has moved forces and is working with DS Joe Ashe.

Not usually a great fan of police procedural narratives, I was utterly enthralled by The Drowning Place and thought it was brilliant.

Sarah Hilary’s prose manages to be simultaneously brief, beautiful and incisive so that the reader finds themselves completely ensnared. The writing is, quite simply, wonderful. 

As one would hope, there is an enthralling and entertaining plot with brutal murders being investigated. As clues are threaded into the narrative the reader is compelled to read on. I found the resolution satisfying, surprising and believable so that, filled with drama, The Drowning Place delivers a police procedural story with aplomb. 

However, that thoroughly engaging story which would make the novel fantastic in its own right, is a mere strand in the book. The drowning place is a literal setting for the background to Joseph Ashe’s personality and home area, and there’s a real sense of small town intensity that feeds into the tension of the story. But the place where the drownings occurred is also a metaphorical setting of grief, despair and guilt which pervades events, prompting attitudes and actions in characters that I found so impactful. The past never leaves Joe alone, shaping him, controlling him and making him the police officer he is now. I didn’t so much read this book as experience it viscerally.

I loved Joe. What a credible, broken, stoic and astonishing man! The arrival of Laurie disturbs the local status quo so that, as she begins to find her feet in Edenscar and becomes Joe’s boss, so her presence enables the reader to gain greater insight into his personality. His relationship with Sammi is one of the most moving in fiction that I’ve encountered. I don’t want to ruin the read for others by saying too much, but I felt the emotional intensity between them almost physically as I read. 

Laurie too is so well depicted. She treads a fine line between compassion and steely determination. Unafraid to admit when she’s wrong, but equally determined to stick to her guns when she believes herself to be right, she is the perfect counterbalance to Joe. I think what we have in Laurie and Joe is a pairing that will become one of the most loved in a generation of crime writing. 

Alongside this wealth of interest and entertainment lie themes that feel all too pertinent to today’s society. In The Drowning Place there are examples of prejudice, manipulation, poverty, wealth, corruption and so on. Each is handled with sensitivity and dexterity so that when some of the later, terrifying, events occur they feel totally authentic. Reading The Drowning Place feels as if you’re in the hands of an incredibly skilled writer who knows just how we all think and feel beneath the surface and who is able to convey that truth with absolute perception and humanity whilst delivering a fabulous nattative. 

It’s quite hard to review The Drowning Place adequately. It is exciting to read. It has compelling characters. It is frequently emotional and often surprising. With the sparsest of prose Sarah Hilary creates the deepest of meaning. Elegant, eloquent and exquisite, The Drowning Place is crime fiction at its very best. I thought it was fantastic.

About Sarah Hilary

Sarah Hilary is the critically-acclaimed author of nine novels. Her debut, Someone Else’s Skin, won the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year 2015 and was a World Book Night selection, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and a finalist for both the Silver Falchion and Macavity Awards in the US. No Other Darkness, the second in her DI Marnie Rome series, was shortlisted for a Barry Award.

In April 2026, The Drowning Place introduced readers to DS Joseph Ashe at the start of a brand new series set in the Peak District.

Sarah is Programme Director for St Hilda’s Crime Fiction Weekend, and co-founder of Ledburied, a crime fiction festival in her home town. Her short stories have won the Fish Criminally Short Histories Prize, the Cheshire Prize for Literature, and the SENSE Prize.

For more information, follow Sarah on X @Sarah_Hilary, find her on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram or visit her website.

My huge thanks to Sriya Varadharajan at Penguin Random House for sending me a surprise copy of We Tell Lies by K. L. Slater. I’m delighted to share my review of We tell Lies today. 

We Tell Lies was published by Penguin’s Michael Joseph on 13th August 2026 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

We Tell Lies

Emily is ready to leave the lies behind. Moving into a beautiful new home and finally with money in the bank, her partner Oliver has promised that they can put their life as con artists firmly in the past. They can relax, settle in, even do ordinary things like getting dinner with the couple next door.

But what if the couple next door is hiding something too?

Because on picture-perfect Orchard Lane, something is not right. Unsettling messages start to arrive. Emily becomes convinced someone is watching them. And then Oliver begins to behave strangely as well.

She wants to trust him. She wants to believe they’re in this together ― especially if someone might know their darkest secrets.

But when murder comes to Orchard Lane, Emily realises she only knows one thing for sure about her husband.

He’s a very good liar…

My Review of We Tell Lies

Emily and Oliver are moving into Orchard Lane.

I am an idiot. I have never read K.L. Slater before and We Tell Lies has convinced me that I have been missing out. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it is twisty, fast paced and filled with plausible, thoroughly toxic characters. Indeed, We Tell Lies could be defined as thoroughly nasty, but that is a complete compliment! 

The plot is so cleverly constructed, opening with a breathtakingly dramatic prologue that underpins the narrative but that keeps the reader guessing throughout. Under different time frames that develop the relationship between Emily and Oliver, the reader is drip fed intriguing information that makes them wonder just what the couple have really done. This makes for gripping reading and engages the imagination brilliantly. 

The Orchard Lane setting of We Tell Lies is fabulous. It lends a traditional unity of place whilst affording the development of characters who all have something to hide. Reading We Tell Lies certainly makes the reader look with fresh eyes at their own neighbours in a rather unsettling manner. We Tell Lies is the perfect embodiment of ‘all that glisters is not gold’ and had me reassessing so much of what goes on around me.

I loved the characters; particularly Emily as I was never quite certain how reliable a narrator she truly was, even though her first person account gives her status and focus. I found this completely intriguing. Through Emily and all her characters K. L. Slater explores the thin veneer of civilisation and, as a result, draws in the reader as they attempt to determine who is telling what lies. This is such absorbing writing. The psychology of who we are, what we do and how we present ourselves to others is handled so intelligently that it is impossible to put the book down.

However, all the adults aside, it was Roman and his friendship with Sanj that touched me the most. I would never have imagined a packet of Haribo might have felt so emotional! 

The themes in this cracking psychological novel are treated with such skill. In We Tell Lies K. L. Slater examines the nature of truth, upbringing, greed and relationships so entertainingly. But the most compelling element for me was the examination of morality. Several characters make the wrong choices for the right reasons and vice versa. Equally the reasons for some choices plunge the reader into their own moral dilemma in wondering how they might have behaved and chosen in the same circumstances. At the very least this is entertaining, but K.L. Slater makes it disturbing too.

I thought We Tell Lies was excellent. It’s thoroughly engaging, completely entertaining, twisty, compelling and interesting. We Tell Lies has shown me what I’ve been missing by not having read K. L. Slater before. Make sure you don’t make the same error! 

About K. L. Slater

Kim is the number one, Sunday Times bestselling author of over twenty-five psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over three million copies of her books worldwide and writes for Audible, Bookouture and Penguin Michael Joseph. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village. 

For further information visit Kim’s website, follow her on X @KLSlaterAuthor and find Kim on Instagram and Facebook. 

My enormous thanks to Tracey Iceton for sending me a copy of Sparky: my barn owl story in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

Published by Cinnamon on 11th May 2026, Sparky is available for purchase here. 

Sparky

Hatched in the UK in August 2017, Sparky is a captive-bred barn owl. Raised by humans, living with them, she accepts them as essential to her life, benefiting from the security they can provide, but suffering under the uncertainty they can inflict.

And here, thanks to her current human, t-raay-cee, Sparky recounts her unique story. By turn heart warming and disturbing, Sparky offers an owl’s-eye view of her relationship with her human mates and her search for a special human to bond with lifelong.

A mesmerising and ambitious work that crosses genres and raises important questions about how we connect deeply with the more-than-human world.

My Review of Sparky

The relationship between barn owl Sparky and humans.

What a wonderful book. I knew there would be considerable natural history interest for me between the covers of Sparky, but I hadn’t anticipated the wonderful craft of writing Tracey Iceton displays. Her prose is mesmerising, frequently poetic and highly effective in conveying the potential thoughts and feelings of Sparky. Never mind the interest of the barn owl, I think this volume would make a wonderful guide to writing for others. Initially I found the ‘pronunciation’ from Sparky a little discordant, but came to realise that it is exactly as it should be. Sparky is not human and had she been displayed that way it would have done her a huge disservice.

There’s a thoroughly engaging account here as Tracey and Sparky develop their relationship – and it is a relationship. That’s not to anthropomorphise Sparky, but rather to stress what an intelligent bird she is and how important she becomes to the author, whilst always being treated as a bird. We learn a considerable amount about Sparky’s nature, her care and her needs so that the book is informative as well as surprisingly touching and emotional. Some of this effect is created through the different time frames of Before and Now as they weave into a tapestry of how Sparky and Tracey came together. As a result, we get insight not just into Sparky but into Tracey’s personality too. 

I really enjoyed Sparky. It gives a fascinating insight into a world so few of us will encounter and Tracey Iceton provides that insight with compassion, sensitivity and considerable humility. Anyone remotely interested in the natural world will be entranced, entertained, enthralled and educated by Sparky. It’s not to be missed. 

About Tracey Iceton

Tracey Iceton is the author of four previous books. Her Celtic Colours Trilogy (2016-2019, Cinnamon Press) tells the story of a hundred years of Troubles in Ireland, following one family through four generations of the conflict from the Easter Rising to the Brexit Vote. Rock God Complex: The Mickey Hunter Story (2020, Cinnamon Press) recounts the exploits of Crown & Kingdom’s legendary guitarist Mickey Hunter.

Iceton’s articles and short stories have appeared in national and international journals, magazines and anthologies. She has won or been shortlisted in several notable writing competitions. Her doctorate, Troubles Women (2017, Northumbria University), was a practice-led project exploring the portrayal of female paramilitary protagonists in Troubles fiction.

Formerly an English and creative writing teacher, Tracey continues to work with emerging writers, offering mentoring and editing, although most of her time is divided between home life with her husband, cats and birds of prey, animal rescue volunteering and running, which she took up in case she ever needs to chase a furred or feathered friend

For further information, visit Tracey’s website.

My enormous thanks to Lisa at Verve for sending me a surprise copy of The Man by Laura Sims. I’m delighted to share my review of The Man Today.

Published by Verve on 23rd July 2026, The Man is available for purchase here.

The Man

The photos Judith Stanley takes are just for her, a private passion to fill her suburban days. But when she shares them with Paul Sorenson, her new photography instructor, she’s unprepared to hear his astonished praise. ‘Stunning,’ he calls her photos. ‘Extraordinary.’ She has an uncanny eye, he says, and should consider publication. He could help. Except Judith has no interest in sharing her work; in fact, the mere idea of it frightens her.

Still, emboldened by Paul’s encouragement, Judith ventures out beyond her quiet neighbourhood to the city in search of increasingly striking images. When she starts to notice the dark shape of a man in the corner of her self-portraits, Judith is certain he’s an attacker from her past. She doesn’t know why he has returned, but she’s sure of his presence: the hoarse sound of his breathing, his hard grip on her elbow. Perhaps it would appease the man if she were to put her camera down and give up her private passion. But she can’t; she refuses. Until one night when the man finally emerges from the shadows, and Judith’s story suddenly and irrevocably becomes his own.

My Review of The Man

Talented amateur photographer Judith Stanley is attending night class.

My goodness me! The Man is phenomenally good. I was totally ensnared throughout.

It’s going to be impossible to say anything about the plot without giving away something crucial, so let me just assure you that The Man is terrifying, believable and gripping. There were moments when I was in awe of Laura Sims’s manipulation of both characters and reader and I thought the book was sensationally good.

Given photography is central to the story, it comes as no surprise that the writing is cinematic, vivid and artistic. How the novel is written is equally as important as what is written. Laura Sims’s skill is terrific.

The American sixties setting is brilliant because it lends itself to a world dominated by men, to smoking and drinking, to real rather than phone cameras, and to physical letters and telephone calls, so that tension is enhanced because there are no easy fixes. There’s a menacing undercurrent throughout and it is no spoiler to say not every aspect of the narrative is clearly resolved. This means that the reader is totally immersed in the story. They have to make up their own mind, leaving the events reverberating long after the final page is turned. I found this such an effective and affecting technique.

I loved the theme of life through a lens in The Man because it leaves both Judith and the reader one step away from reality. Through photography and Judith’s literal and metaphorical reflective self portraits Laura Sims shows how we construct our own realities and our identities. This makes The Man as thought-provoking as it is mesmerisingly entertaining. Judith might be a stereotypical housewife, but she’s so much more besides and you need to read the book to discover her layers and depth.

As for the man of the title, again the book is not clear cut, enhancing the involvement of the reader. Despite the definite article, so many men in this story could be THE man. Paul, Judith’s tutor of course is central, and he is every bit as fascinating and disturbing as Judith, but events way back in the 1930s provide possibilities, as does Judith’s husband Tom. Indeed, there’s a universality to masculine dominance over women, from the party at the start of the story to the exhibition at the end, that really engages the reader’s mind. That’s not to say that The Man is an unremitting feminist novel, but rather that it captures the reader, draws them in and makes them question what they think they are reading.

Having said almost nothing about The Man because I really don’t want to spoil the story for others, let me say that I found it superb. The psychology behind the action, the theme of identity, the fantastic writing – all these elements make for a brilliant read. Don’t miss this one as it’s one of my favourite reads this year. 

About Laura Sims

Laura Sims’s previous novels How Can I Help You and Looker have been featured on Best Books lists in the New York Times Book Review, Vogue, People, Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, Publishers Weekly and more. An award-winning poet, Sims has published four poetry collections; her essays and poems have appeared in the New Republic, Boston Review, LitHub and Electric Lit. She lives in New Jersey, where she works part-time as a children’s librarian.

For further information, visit Laura’s website and find her on Instagram.

My enormous thanks to Rebecca at Hobeck for sending me a copy of The Conservatory by Anthony Aberford in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share my review of The Conservatory today. 

You can find out about Anthony in a post here when we chatted about his other writing persona A J Aberford.

The Conservatory was published by Hobeck on  21st April 2026 and is available for purchase here. 

The Conservatory

Some secrets are best left buried; others are better never planted!

In a restored Victorian conservatory, four grieving women from the local wellness centre discover that their friend’s mysterious death, amongst her toxic plants, was not a mysterious accident.

When eccentric homoeopath Aunt Lily arrives on her tricycle, she seems just the person to help uncover answers. But who is she really, and why is she there?

A 17th-century journal hidden in the conservatory holds dark secrets that could change everything. And an enigmatic stranger will stop at nothing to find it – making false promises and real threats.

Can the friends resist his temptations and unlock the book’s hidden secrets in time? Do they have the strength to make an impossible choice before it is too late?

My Review of The Conservatory

Aunt Lily has arrived on her tricycle!

The Conservatory took me completely by surprise and as a result I really enjoyed it. I had anticipated a rather cosy crime revolving around a slightly eccentric character in Aunt Lily. Indeed, The Conservatory has that element, but there’s an awful lot more to be discovered here too, making for a highly diverting and compelling read. 

The plot is entertaining as one might hope, but it’s also really interesting with the well-researched use of Tarot cards, herbalism and alternative therapies as well as historical detail so that it feels immersive. There’s a real sense of pace and some highly dramatic moments (I’m not telling you what they are – read the book!) that are well balanced by humour and more prosaic aspects, like Lizzie’s exam revision, so that even the most surprising aspects feel believable and convincing. The Conservatory is elegantly written.

Indeed, what I enjoyed most about The Conservatory was its variety. I hadn’t expected its magical realism, or quite so much creepy and menacing atmosphere. There’s murder, the supernatural and mystery to unravel here. As a result The Conservatory has intrigue for all readers. 

Anthony Aberford blends the echoes of the past with modern events highly effectively, not least because some of his themes like coercive marriages reverberate still. I loved the way friendship is explored as well as the danger of power and being careful what you wish for. I also thoroughly appreciated the age ranges of the characters because The Conservatory felt like it had real community.

I thought Bob’s Yorkshire accent was inspired as it provided light relief and added to the humour. But of course, it is Aunt Lily who steals the scenes. Initially expecting a kind of Mary Poppins, I wasn’t always entirely sure how trustworthy Aunt Lily was, especially as she’s not averse to using her powers to punish others, albeit more lightly than George Ermystead might. And George is a brilliant creation, exuding horror vibes and threat but an unnerving attraction too, and not just for other characters, but for this reader too… 

The Conservatory is an entertaining and pacy mystery mixed with fun and menace that has left me looking forward to seeing what Aunt Lily gets up to in future.  In the meantime, I’m getting myself a slice of cake but you need to read The Conservatory to discover why! 

About Anthony Aberford

AJ Aberford lives with his wife Janet, primarily in Malta, but for the last ten years, they’ve kept their old family home in West Yorkshire, fleeing the heat in Malta, for the rain in Bradford and vice versa! Following the death of their elderly parents, and the fact that their two sons are settled, AJ and his wife are now taking stock of the next part of their lives. AJ started writing initially as a hobby, but now it has taken an increasing importance in both their lives.

AJ does the writing, Janet does a lot of the initial reviews, edits and proofing, along with the invaluable work of AJ’s professional editor, Lynn Curtis. The books are ‘best sellers’ in the main book shops in Malta, but in the UK selling books is difficult, even when you have a publisher behind you. Janet’s also the engine room behind AJ Aberford socials and they are currently trying to understand the algorithms behind Facebook and Amazon Ads. There’s work to do there!

AJ is trying to make the transition from writing for his own pleasure – and hoping someone will like it – to understanding what people want and meeting that demand. His next books will be in a different genre and probably under a different name – but don’t worry, he’ll be letting people know about it in due course!

For further information follow Anthony on Twitter/X @AJAberford and find him on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s no secret to regular visitors to Linda’s Book Bag that I am a huge fan of M.W. Craven’s Washington Poe books. Consequently, when the latest book in the series, The Killer’s Mark, arrived in surprise book mail I was genuinely thrilled and there may have been* shouting in glee. I’m not quite sure who sent The Killer’s Mark, but thank you so very much! 

(*there was)

It’s my pleasure to share my review of The Killer’s Mark today and you’ll find my reviews of the other books in the series here. 

The Killer’s Mark is published by Constable on 13th August 2026 and is available for pre-order here. 

The Killer’s Mark

The next darkly-funny thrill-ride of a book in the bestselling Washington Poe series.

A MONSTER. A MOTHER. A MURDER?

When Vice Admiral Boyer, RN (retd) died without leaving a will, his estranged daughter inherited his- not inconsiderable – estate. Called home to sort through his belongings, she found an AegisBox – a tamper proof safe within a safe designed to self-destruct if anyone without the code attempts to open it. Faced with the choice of walking away or opening it, she opted for knowledge over silence and uncovered something so horrifying it launched the biggest investigation in the National Crime Agency’s history. Five years later, Washington Poe is unwittingly, and unwillingly, sucked into its gravity well…

Finally able to escape the authority they once railed against, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are enjoying their new jobs as private detectives or – as the sign on their door says – ‘Gumshoes for Hire’. When a teenage girl walks into their office, looking for the mother she has long believed to be dead, they agree to take the case. As Poe and Tilly investigate the girl’s claims, they find themselves drawn into a murky world of trafficking, pornography and prostitution. Will they be able to help the girl find her mother or will the dark forces at work, who will stop at nothing to protect themselves, get there first… 

My Review of The Killer’s Mark

Poe and Tilly have a new private investigator business.

I have a feeling The Killer’s Mark is going to be impossible to review because I absolutely do not want to give away spoilers. As soon as I had read the Prologue I knew this was going to be an extraordinary book. It is. It also confirms my suspicions that M. W. Craven is both terrifyingly skilled and possibly a little unhinged – in the best possible way – as no ordinary mind could construct this kind of plot. 

As ever with a Poe and Bradshaw book the pace is blistering, the short chapters refuse to let the reader step away from the narrative because, not only do they add momentum, they are so gripping with those trademark hooks at the end of each one that it’s impossible not to want to read on. The twists, the balance between keeping the reader informed and withholding just enough to have them completely ensnared in the narrative thrums through the pages. The trademark visceral nature of the story, the wit, humanity and technological science with which we are so familiar in a Washington Poe book are wonderfully resonant and yet feel fresh and vibrant within The Killer’s Mark. The main characters might be familiar but there is nothing repetitive or derivative in the storytelling. M. W. Craven is innovative and mesmerising with an assured sense of detail that is utterly convincing. 

Indeed, alongside a plot that is insanely intricate, brilliantly constructed and mind-blowingly entertaining, there is some fabulous character development here. If you’ve not read another of the Washington Poe books, there is enough of Poe’s past exploits referenced to give a rounded picture, but in The Killer’s Mark, he is given a slightly more tender trait so that his humanity is both presented more fully and tested to the limit. What I loved even more this time is that Tilly is becoming adept at her own deviousness too. The balance of familiarity and progression is so appealing. Add in the teenage, angst-ridden, foul mouthed Esmeree to the mix and the combination is both explosive and fascinating.

I’m aware I’ve said nothing at all about The Killer’s Mark – deliberately so as I really, really don’t want to spoil the read for others. However, one aspect I am willing to spoil is that the Epilogue, particularly the final sentence, made me cheer, but you’ll need to read the book to find out why!

Regardless of my inability to review it, I thought The Killer’s Mark was excellent. I absolutely adored being back with Poe and Tilly. I loved the attention to detail, the evident thorough research that has gone into making this another authentic and pulse elevating narrative, and the masterful storytelling which all add up to another roller-coaster ride. Don’t miss this one because it’s brilliant and if you haven’t read the other seven books in the series you are really missing out!

About M.W. Craven

Multi-award winning author M. W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle. He joined the army at sixteen, leaving ten years later to complete a degree in social work. Seventeen years after taking up a probation officer role in Cumbria, at the rank of assistant chief officer, he became a full-time author. The Puppet Show, the first book in the critically acclaimed, best-selling Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw series, was published by Little, Brown and went on to win the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger in 2019. Black Summer, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Gold Dagger as was book three, The Curator. Dead Ground won the CWA Steel Dagger in 2022 and book five, The Botanist, won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2023. Dead Ground and 2022’s The Botanist were both Sunday Times bestsellers. The series has now been translated into twenty-seven languages. Fearless, the first thriller in the new US-set, Ben Koenig series, was published in June 2023 by Flatiron Books in the US and by Little, Brown in the UK. Fearless will soon be a major TV series.

M.W. Craven lives in Carlisle with his wife, Joanne. When he isn’t talking nonsense in the pub, he can usually be found at punk gigs and writing festivals up and down the country.

For further information, visit Mike’s website or find Mike on Instagram, Bluesky, X @mwcravenuk and Facebook.

My huge thanks to Kate at Canelo for sending me a surprise copy of The Residency by C D Major. Having loved C D Majors books under her other pen names (see my reviews here) I was thrilled to receive it and it is my pleasure to share my review of The Residency today.

The Residency will be published by Canelo on 13th August 2026 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Residency

Life in London is hard for Ginny as a single mother barely scraping by. Once she was a promising artist with a glittering future ahead. On a whim, she applies for an artist’s residency – all expenses paid – and is astonished to be accepted.

Soon, Ginny is on a boat to a remote Scottish island, her daughter by her side. But was she too hasty, attracted by the promise of security and a chance to make art again? Locals she meets are tightlipped about the man who is Ginny’s benefactor, but she senses underlying fear. Her contract contains odd rules about avoiding the gallery at the vast property where she is living, and there is an undeniable eeriness to the place. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear she could hear whispers, and that the people in the paintings were changing overnight…

By the time Ginny realises what a grave mistake she has made, she is stranded. Accepting the invitation has sealed her fate and the only way to survive is through escape – or sacrifice.

An atmospheric gothic suspense novel to send a chill down your spine and keep you reading late into the night. 

My Review of The Residency

With a slightly disabled daughter, and a violent partner about to be released from prison, Ginny is determined to escape her London poverty.

Crikey. What a fabulous read. I loved The Residency even as I found it creepy and unsettling. It would be difficult to discover a more perfect exploration of being careful what you wish for and of the concept that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

The plot of The Residency would make a fantastic film or television series. There are chilling moments aplenty, but the real skill comes through the gradual build up of tension, the weird behavior of the inhabitants of the remote Scottish island and the way in which Ginny realises that an evil is lurking that is far more powerful than the fears sparked by creaking floorboards and strange aromas. I thought it inspired to have the dated events from Philip’s past because they mean the reader has an understanding of him that Ginny doesn’t realise, adding to the sense of danger and the pressure of feeling. The reader becomes as controlled by Philip and as unable to assist Ginny as the other residents on the island. Her first person account adds to this sense of danger.

The island setting of The Residency is brilliant because it lends a claustrophobic, locked-room feeling. As the residents become less friendly, and Ginny becomes more isolated, there’s a real sense of doom that is enhanced by the technique of condensed sentences at the ends of chapters that compel the reader on through the narrative. The house where Ginny and daughter Isla are accommodated is right out of the tradition of gothic horror with dark oppressive corridors, strange smells and noises, an attic and a literal locked room so that C D Major manipulates the reader into feeling unsettled even when seemingly innocent events are taking place. 

Ginny might be a talented artist, but she is also a modern woman. Her fierce protection of Isla illustrates a mother’s love and the complications of her life in London as a single parent with an abusive criminal for a partner are very modern concepts. Transporting her to an all expenses paid artistic residency on a remote island is, therefore, attractive to her and all the more powerful because the reader realises this will not end well – especially with the underlying supernatural evil aspect rippling through the art work, the island and the house, but I’m not going to say more and spoil the read. Not all Ginny’s actions are rational, altruistic and benevolent, but these aspects make her all the more appealing.

Themes in The Residency are fascinating, engaging and explored with aplomb. Family rivalry, parental love (or lack of), control and fear on many levels pulsate through the story. I found them so convincing. 

I thought The Residency was a corker of a read. I found it creepy, engaging and unnerving. If you want a fantastic gothic thriller to keep you up at night, read The Residency as I thoroughly recommend it. Oh – and remember, when given an attractive offer, always read the small print!

About C D Major

C.D. Major writes suspenseful books inspired by strange true stories. Alongside her thrillers she writes big love stories as Cesca Major, rom coms under the pseudonym Rosie Blake and emotional women’s fiction as Ruby Hummingbird. 

For further information visit Cesca’s website and follow her on X @CescaMajor, Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.