It’s a real pleasure to close the blog tour for Lin Anderson’s latest Rhona MacLeod thriller The Innocent Dead. My enormous thanks to the team at Pan Macmillan for inviting me to participate. I’m so sorry I didn’t have time to squeeze in a review as I think it sounds fabulous.

Lin was last on Linda’s Book Bag when I reviewed the first book in her new Blaze Dog Detective children’s series. You can see my review of The Magic Flag Mystery here.

Come and see what Lin told me about her new adult thriller when we stayed in together.

Staying in with Lin Anderson

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Lin. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

It’s my pleasure and thank you for asking me.

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought along my latest book, The Innocent Dead because it’s the eagerly awaited latest book in my long running crime series starring forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod.

I’ve heard such good things about this series Lin. What can we expect from an evening in with The Innocent Dead?

Quoting a fan (who I didn’t bribe!)… ‘This is one of my favourite series, and having read so much crime fiction, it is not easy to sustain a riveting long running series without great skill, talent and expertise, qualities that Anderson has in abundance.’

What a smashing comment. You must be thrilled with that response.

In The Innocent Dead, Rhona revists a crime scene from 45 years ago, when forensic science was in its infancy. Now however she can bring her forensic knowledge and skills to the study of what little evidence has been retained. It’s a period I know well, being the young daughter of a DI, who served then.

This sounds so fascinating. It’s high time I caught up with Rhona’s activities.

What else have you brought along and why?

The book is dedicated to my late father, who died before I wrote the first book in the series. So I’d bring along a drawing of him which my sister, an artist did.

Wow. What a wonderful portrait Lin. He looks such a fabulous man and would have been so proud of you I’m sure.

Rhona MacLeod was inspired by a former maths pupil of mine, Emma Hart, who became a forensic scientist. She works in London now, but comes back to our home village of Carrbridge often. I would invite Emma to our get together and present her with her own copy of the new book, as I do every year.

What a lovely way to celebrate a new book Lin. I wish you every success with The Innocent Dead. Thanks so much for staying in with me to chat about it.

The Innocent Dead

The Innocent Dead is a gripping crime novel by Lin Anderson featuring forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod who must solve the case of a young girl who went missing forty-five years ago.

Mary McIntyre’s disappearance tore the local community apart, inflicting wounds that still prove raw for those who knew her.

So when the present-day discovery of a child’s remains are found in a peat bog south of Glasgow, it seems the decades-old mystery may finally be solved.

Called in to excavate the body, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod uses the advances made in forensic science since Mary’s vanishing to determine what really happened all those years ago . . . and who was responsible.

One key person had been Karen Marshall who was devastated by her best friend’s abduction. Questioned by the police at the time had led to a dead end and the case soon went cold.

Now the news of the discovered body brings the nightmares back. But added to that, memories long-buried by Karen are returning, memories that begin to reveal her role in her friend’s disappearance and perhaps even the identity of the killer . . .

Published by Macmillan on 6th August 2020, The Innocent Dead is available for purchase through the links here.

About Lin Anderson

Lin Anderson is best known as the creator of the forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod series of crime thriller novels, and for her part in founding the annual ‘Bloody Scotland’ crime writing festival.

For more information, follow Lin on Twitter @Lin_Anderson or visit her website. You’ll also find her on Facebook and Instagram.

There’s more with these other bloggers too:

It gives me enormous pleasure to stay in with author Helena Halme today. Helena’s books look just my kind of read and although I haven’t been able to fit in a read yet, I’m longing to do so. Consequently, I was delighted when Helena agreed to stay in with me to chat about her latest release.

Staying in with Helena Halme

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Helena. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

It’s lovely to be here. Thank you so much for inviting me along!

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I am deep into writing a series set on a group of islands in the outer archipelago off the coast of Finland. The Island Daughter, Book 3, came out 17th July, and the Love on the Island series compilation with all the three novels was published 27 August.

So I’d like to offer all the books in the boxset: The Island Affair, An Island Christmas and The Island Daughter to share with you and your readers tonight.

They look fabulous Helena. I love travel and a return to Finland sounds like a brilliant idea. How exciting to have a new box set out. Congratulations. So, tell me, what can we expect from an evening in with Love on the Island Series Books 1-3?

All novels in the series follow Alicia, who returns to the islands where she was raised, after losing her son in a tragic accident. Her marriage to Liam, a British surgeon, breaks down and she embarks on a torrid affair with Patrick, the blonde and blue-eyed husband of a local property magnate’s daughter. We also meet Alicia’s mother, the gutsy Hilda, her world-travelling friend Brit, and other characters living in the small island community. Readers have called this series of three books ‘sensational’ (NetGalley) and ‘a rich story full of twists and turns you can’t see coming’ (GoodReads).

I love the sound of your characters and those reader responses make me even more keen to add the box set Love on the Island Series Books 1-3 to my TBR pile!

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I can offer you a piece of Ålands Pannkaka, a clafoutis type of dessert often enjoyed together with a cup of strong coffee on the islands. Made with semolina and cream, it is just divine, especially served with local plum or cloudberry jam! This rich treat features quite a lot in the books.

If you’re going to bring food like that Helena, I shall be asking you back very soon!

I’m also sharing with you a few images from this magical place, where I’ve spent many, many lazy summer days.

It was these holidays that inspired me to write the stories in the Love on the Island series. I hope you agree that there could not really be a more beautiful setting to spend your time writing or reading about? I could be biased, of course…. 😉

I think you have every right to be biased. What a stunning location. Truly inspirational. You’ve made me want to visit both in person and vicariously through your books. Thank you so much for staying in with me and introducing the new box set for the Love on the Island series Helena. 

Thank you so much for letting me be your guest on your blog!

My pleasure!

Love on the Island

Transport yourself through ‘sensational fiction’ to the fascinating and serenely beautiful Åland Islands between Finland and Sweden!

Love on the Island series by the ‘brilliant author’ Helena Halme is a sweeping saga set on a small group of Nordic islands filled with tourists in the summer and snow and ice in the winter. This boxset combines the three first full-length novels in the ‘must read’ series with Alicia, a journalist raised on the islands, her British surgeon husband, Liam, and a Swedish reporter, Patrick, who makes Alicia’s heart beat a little too fast…

The Island Affair (Book 1)

After her son’s tragic death, journalist Alicia and her husband Liam travel to the Nordic Islands where Alicia was raised. As they struggle to keep their marriage afloat, secrets are revealed which threaten to end their relationship, but at the same time give Alicia hope for the future. Enter tall, blonde Patrick with the most piercing blue eyes Alicia has ever seen. As the summer heats up, can Alicia find a way to embrace life and love once more?

An Island Christmas (Book 2)

It’s time for Alicia to enjoy her first winter back on her beloved Islands with her family. But her estranged husband, Liam, springs an unwelcome and devastating surprise and her ex-lover, Patrick, tempts her with an altogether different kind of future, making Alicia face an impossible choice. With her world crashing around her, can Alicia create the idyllic Island Christmas she’s always dreamt about?

The Island Daughter (Book 3)

Alicia returns home to the islands after a family tragedy, leaving behind a new life in Stockholm with Patrick. But when Mia Eriksson, Patrick’s ex, makes a move to rekindle her relationship with him, Alicia is torn between duty and her own happiness. Alicia’s world is further upended when deeply buried family secrets surface. How can she face the future when everything she believed to be true about her past is a lie?

Join Alicia’s small island community in the captivating new series set on the most picturesque of Scandinavian islands. Once you enter her world, you’ll never want to leave.

The Love on the Island series is available for purchase here.

About Helena Halme

You can find more about Helena and her books on Helena’s website, by finding her on Facebook and by following her on Twitter @helenahalme.

You’ll find all of Helena’s books here.

I’m delighted to participate in the launch celebrations for The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman by sharing my review today. My Thanks to Ellie Hudson at Penguin for inviting me to participate.

The Thursday Murder Club will be published tomorrow, 3rd September 2020 by Penguin imprint Viking and is available for purchase through the links here.

The Thursday Murder Club

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it’s too late?

My Review of The Thursday Murder Club

The retirement village Thursday Murder Club has a new case to solve.

Now, I confess I’m not usually attracted to ‘celebrity’ authors, but I am so glad I made an exception in Richard Osman’s case. The Thursday Murder Club is an absolute gem of a book, written with wit, wry and dry humour as well as outright comedic moments so that few pages passed without me laughing. However, there’s also some lovely insight into the human condition, especially love and loneliness so that I confess I found a tear in my eye on more than one occasion too.

The plot is cleverly constructed so that Richard Osman withholds and reveals just enough detail to tantalise the reader and keep them hooked. Short chapters keep the pace snappy and fast, but also give an episodic approach that would work brilliantly in television. The Thursday Murder Club seems to blend disparate elements of every crime of police series there’s ever been into a coherent, thoroughly satisfying whole that a diverting and fun read.

There’s quite a cast of characters both in the literal and metaphorical sense. Elizabeth is absolutely brilliant in undermining the little old lady stereotype of older women, so that I finished reading The Thursday Murder Club rather wishing I could meet her or that I’ll be like her when I reach her age. Contrasting perfectly with the dynamic, and probably quite overpowering, Elizabeth I found Joyce’s gentler, first person, sections worked extremely well in giving the reader time to pause and restock, whilst adding to the pathos that threads between the humour. Her voice is clear and illustrates just how much those frequently overlooked have to offer. 

In fact, much as I enjoyed the romp of a plot, the smashing humour and the vivid characters, I think what appealed to me most about Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club was the exploration of theme. The author has such a crystal clear insight into human nature and such a witty style that he presents weighty themes of crime and retribution, suicide and murder, relationships and stereotyping in such a way as to challenge reader expectations whilst entertaining them brilliantly. 

I thought The Thursday Murder Club was a cracking read. I hope the team have another case to solve very soon.

About Richard Osman

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel. He is well known for TV shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House of Games. As the creative director of Endemol UK, Richard has worked as an executive producer on numerous shows including Deal Or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also a regular on panel and game shows such as Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You and Taskmaster.

You can follow Richard on Twitter @richardosman and there’s more with these other bloggers:

When Natasha Randall got in touch to see if I would like to review her debut book, Love Orange, I could see immediately that it would be my kind of read. However, with over 600 new books coming out on 3rd September and my TBR still standing at well over 900 physical books I knew I’d never read Love Orange by the time it was published. I was so intrigued though that I simply had to invite Natasha to stay in with me to tell me more about it.

Staying in with Natasha Randall

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Natasha and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

In case readers haven’t guessed yet, tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I have brought my debut novel Love Orange with me. It is a very orange book. And there is a trick on the cover. Did you ever see Margaret Atwood’s latest Handmaid’s Tale cover – where the negative space actually depicted something too? Something similar happens with my cover. It’s a strong design, but there’s a reason the title is placed where it is… You have to read it to find out, though.

Oo. Now that is intriguing. I’m so glad I have a copy of Love Orange on my TBR waiting to be read so that I can find out. I have all kinds of theories as I can see a letter, a warning sign, an inverted house or home, a possible love triangle – or two – so it’ll be fascinating to see if any of my initial impressions are right. 

With all that in mind, what can we expect from an evening in with Love Orange?

You can expect to laugh, and then to feel like something a little weird is happening. Online reviewers say it reminds them of Ray Bradbury – but if he was writing about now, instead of some future moment. I have to warn you, the first 100 pages are spread wide. The story is told by four characters so there’s a bit of getting to know each of them. They are all in the same family, and they all see the same things but very differently.

I think that’s true of any family! I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy reading Love Orange.

What else have you brought along and why?

I have brought a basket of oranges for you because they are a gesture of health. My book isn’t about health— it’s about a lonely search for identity, so this is a kind of effort at contributing an antidote. I will also say that Aperol is really delicious with light beer instead of sparkling wine.

I have brought that too for you to try. It’s also orange, so that’s cute – right?

I’ll have to try that as I don’t normally like Aperol!

You’ll hear that Hunger by Florence and the Machine is playing on the radio—I asked for that. That’s a song that tells you that we’re all hungry. And sometimes, the hunger is an ache for something other than food.

I think we all recognise that feeling Natasha!

Jenny Tinkley is here, she’s waiting outside – she’s one of my characters. She’s tired today. We could ask her to come inside, maybe.

We could. You go and call her in and I’ll tell readers all they need about Love Orange. Thanks so much for staying in with me Natasha to chat all about it. I can’t wait to read Love Orange!

Love Orange

An extraordinary debut novel by Natasha Randall, exposing the seam of secrets within an American family, from beneath the plastic surfaces of their new ‘smart’ home. Love Orange charts the gentle absurdities of their lives, and the devastating consequences of casual choices.

While Hank struggles with his lack of professional success, his wife Jenny, feeling stuck and beset by an urge to do good, becomes ensnared in a dangerous correspondence with a prison inmate called John. Letter by letter, John pinches Jenny awake from the “marshmallow numbness” of her life. The children, meanwhile, unwittingly disturb the foundations of their home life with forays into the dark net and strange geological experiments.

Jenny’s bid for freedom takes a sour turn when she becomes the go-between for John and his wife, and develops an unnatural obsession for the orange glue that seals his letters…

Love Orange throws open the blinds of American life, showing a family facing up to the modern age, from the ascendancy of technology, the predicaments of masculinity, the pathologising of children, the epidemic of opioid addiction and the tyranny of the WhatsApp Gods. The first novel by the acclaimed translator is a comic cocktail, an exuberant skewering of contemporary anxieties and prejudices.

Love Orange is published by Quercus imprint Riverrun on 3rd September 2020 and is available for pre-order here.

About Natasha Randall

Natasha Randall is a literary translator whose translations include Notes from an Underground by Dostoyevsky, A Hero of Our Time by Lermontov, and We by Zamyatin. She has edited a volume of Gogol for Riverrun, Quercus. Her articles and reviews have appeared in the TLS, LA Review and the NYT. She lives in London with her husband and young children.

You can follow Natasha on Twitter @NatashaRandall and visit her website for more information.