When Rachel Healey got in touch about her highly pertinent historical novel, I was so disappointed not to be able to fit in reading it. However, I couldn’t resist asking Rachel to stay in with me to chat about it as I thought it sounded fantastic.

When you read what Rachel told me I think you’ll agree! Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Rachel Healey

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

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

This evening, I’ve brought along my historical fiction novel, Our Silent Footsteps. It’s inspired by real events in the life of Mary Goued whom I had the privilege of meeting several years ago. The story follows her life and that of her husband, Jozef Bekerwhom she met under extraordinary circumstances in Alexandria, Egypt during the Second World War. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war making this novel’s rich historical context even more significant.

It most certainly does. What can we expect from an evening in with Our Silent Footsteps?

An emotional roller coaster ride. One reader once told me she felt as if the story had ripped her heart out and repeatedly banged it against a table before finishing, in the closing chapters, with a much-needed hug.

That’s quite a response!

It’s so difficult to stay true to a real-life story as life doesn’t always work out in the way we’d like it to. There’s sadness in the book, frustration at the unfairness of the world and disbelief at how human beings behave towards each other but, in the most part, I’ve written what Mary recounted to me and tried to stay true to that fact. Mary had a fascinating background, born and raised in Egypt in the 1920s. Without the Second World War, she and her husband, Jozef Beker would never have met but, at the same time, the War destroyed Jozef’s past and created difficulties in his health which possibly led to his early death.

That’s fascinating. Given Our Silent Footsteps is based in real people and events, it must have affected you as a writer.

What resonated with me is that, on the one hand we live in an era of social media when everybody’s lives are available to view at the touch of a button but, back when Mary met Jozef, she truly knew nothing about him. She didn’t know of his pre-war life in his native Poland, she knew nothing of the young family he’d had to leave behind, nor even how many siblings he had. None of that mattered to her. When I asked her why she didn’t know the answers to these questions, she merely said that she’d never thought to ask. I don’t think we can say the same when we view our relationships today – we want to know everything! Does that mean we have to know someone completely before truly loving them? Mary clearly adored Jozef and was still clearly grieving him when I met her, 40 years after his untimely death.

As someone who met her husband, moved in with him in a week and got married ten months later some 42 years ago Rachel, I don’t think we do need to know everything about a person before loving them!

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

I’ve cheated and brought two things – I hope you don’t mind!

Not at all!

The first is a 1950s style belt for two reasons. Mary’s Egyptian childhood was fairly traumatic. Her father died young leaving the family effectively penniless. Her mother was left to bring up three children by herself in a very misogynistic world. As the eldest, Mary bore the brunt of her mother’s frustration and the belt symbolises this. On a more positive note, the belt also reminds me of Mary and Jozef’s business which they set up in London in the 1950s. Setting up home in a foreign country must have been incredibly difficult. All they wanted to do was fit in. With the business they made in making belts, they had at last settled down. So, the belt to me represents both the difficult times and the more successful times in their lives.

I’m sure it does. But what’s that second item you’re holding?

The second item is an onion (bear with me!). Food features heavily in the book. I always think that food is a big eye-opener to different cultures. In Our Silent Footsteps the reader travels from Egypt to Poland to Siberia and then to the UK. The book covers a lot of ground to say the least! The onion is particularly poignant to me as, whilst researching Jozef’s story, some of his past remained a blank. He was captured by the Russians in the early 1940s and ended up in a workcamp in Siberia. When the Russians switched sides, the Polish prisoners were simply released with no help. One of the few records we have of this time in Jozef’s life is his recollection of making his way from Siberia to Uzbekistan (mostly on foot) in a terrible state. Half-starving he found a morsal of stale bread in the snow and, to his joy, a half-frozen onion.

And what is so terrifying Rachel, is that history is still repeating itself. Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about Our Silent Footsteps. I’m even more certain that I would adore it and I hope I can fit in a read before too long.

Our Silent Footsteps

They say that to really know a person you need to understand their past. If that is true, then Mary Beker did not know her husband, Jozef, at all…

Warsaw, 2005. An elderly Mary is searching for clues regarding her late husband’s pre-war life: the first wife and children he had to leave behind; the siblings who vanished. There’s a danger the answers she finds could ruin the memory of the man she adored, memories of their time together. When unravelling his past causes her to revisit uncomfortable memories of her own, Mary must reach a new understanding of the events that brought them together.

Spanning continents, cultures and time, Our Silent Footsteps is based on the true story of Mary, an Egyptian Copt and Jozef, a Polish Jew. A love story transcending the trauma of war.

Published by Troubador on 24th February 2024, Our Silent Footsteps is available for purchase here.

About Rachel Healey

Rachel is a history enthusiast with a captivating background, having worked at both the iconic Windsor Castle and then English Heritage. She now lives in the county of Berkshire in the UK where she feels spoilt by the beautiful countryside on her doorstep. When she is not weaving tales of historical fiction Rachel is on a mission to tire out her spirited dog and two lively children, embracing the joys and challenges of family life.

GFor further information about Rachel, visit her website and follow her on Twitter/X: @RachelHealey20.

Regular visitors to Linda’s Book Bag will know I very rarely reblog about a book, but as HQ are rereleasing my lovely friend Jane Lambert’s The Start of Something Wonderful – a book I loved – I simply had to shout about it today. 

The Start of Something Wonderful was released by HQ on 8th May 2025 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Start of Something Wonderful

It’s never too late to follow your dreams…

Emily Forsyth is on cloud nine…

She has a high-flying job (literally), a hunky boyfriend (soon to be fiancé?) and a life of luxury. But then, out of the blue, her boyfriend dumps her for a younger woman, and Emily comes crashing down to earth.

Suddenly, she’s single and homeless, and the prospect of staying in the same job as her cheating ex is unbearable. So, at forty years not-so-young, she quits steady employment and decides to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an actress.

But with eccentric acting teachers, unreliable agents, and some decidedly unglamorous roles on offer, has she made a huge mistake? Or is this the start of something wonderful?

My Review of The Start of Something Wonderful

Nursing a broken heart and a desire to become an actress, Emily throws in her cabin crew career for a life of drama – in more ways than one.

The Start of Something Wonderful had been on my TBR for such a long time that I was almost afraid to read it. What if I didn’t like it? I needn’t have worried as I really, really enjoyed this uplifting and charming book.

The Start of Something Wonderful is a delightfully effortless read because Jane Lambert’s style is so fluid and natural that it makes reading a pleasure. I loved the realism conveyed through the sprinkling of foreign words and phrases as well as the references to the arts and literature and the quotations from Shakespeare that weave seamlessly into the narrative, yet serve to add depth and flavour. And speaking of flavour, Jane Lambert manages to appeal to all the senses so that The Start of Something Wonderful is vivid, engaging and stimulating.

I loved meeting Emily. She is the perfect embodiment of a real woman of a certain age. Her anxieties, her doubts, her challenges and triumphs are told with emotion and brilliant humour and they are exactly the elements that all women can relate to. I frequently laughed aloud, smiled and nodded as I read because I understood completely how she was feeling as Jane Lambert places the reader very firmly inside Emily’s head. Emily feels like a friend rather than a character in a book. 

I adored the storyline. I learnt  a great deal about the life of a jobbing actor. I’m sure much of the novel is autobiographical, as, alongside the humour and despair there’s a realism and considerable depth that I thoroughly appreciated. Whilst The Start of Something Wonderful is a rom-com if that’s how you want to define it, it is also a book about being true to yourself, about not relying simply on a man and about making the most of every moment we have. This makes the narrative feel mature and relatable.

The Start of Something Wonderful is a glorious, escapist read with romance, drama (in more ways than one), humour and a cracking story that I loved. It’s just right for a summer read.

About Jane Lambert

Jane studied French and German at Stirling University, taught English in Vienna then travelled the world as air crew before making the life-changing decision to become an actor.

She has appeared in “Witness for the Prosecution”, “True West”, “Calendar Girls”, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time”, “Watch on the Rhein” and “Deathtrap” in London’s West End .

For further information about Jane, find her on Facebook follow her on Twitter/X @JaneLambert22 or find jane on Instagram. 

I’m a huge fan of Sweet Cherry books for children, having reviewed several here on Linda’s Book Bag. Consequently, when a surprise copy of The Agency for All Things Spectral: The Case of Dr Dust by Samuel J. Halpin arrived with illustrations by Laura Borio, I simply had to dive straight in! My grateful thanks to Morgan for sending it to me. I’m delighted to share my review today. 

And what could be a better date to share my review than when Sweet Cherry launch Sweet Cherry Every Cherry Day – a brand-new, nationwide celebration of accessible books and inclusive reading for all children.

Sweet Cherry say ‘Every Cherry Day is about more than just books. It’s about ensuring that every child, regardless of their ability, can experience the joy of reading. We want to bring together schools, libraries, bookshops and organisations to champion accessible stories and shine a spotlight on why inclusive books matter.’

You Van read more about this brand new initiative here.

Published by Sweet Cherry on 17th April 2025, The Case of Dr Dust is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

The Case of Dr Dust

A brilliantly fun and spooky middle grade adventure!

Billy is having a miserable summer. She’s fallen out with her best friend. Her mums might have to sell their antique shop. And she’s just accidentally killed her gold fish. When Billy comes across some unusual spectacles through which she can not only see ghosts – things take a spooky turn.

My Review of The Case of Dr Dust

Billy is not having a good summer.

What a fabulous book! The Case of Dr Dust is packed with adventure and excitement and I thought it was excellent.

The plot is fast paced and thrilling as Billy discovers that she can see and hear ghosts who are themselves having a few difficulties! There’s loads of action, Laura Borio’s fantastic illustrations and the perfect balance of text to white space and pictures so that The Case of Dr Dust is brilliant for young readers moving on to chapter books and independent reading, for use in schools or as a shared text at home. This is one of those books I wish I’d had access to as a child.

The language is just right for the age of the intended audience. Some vocabulary will be unfamiliar, but the context affords the opportunity to learn new words and I thought it was wonderful that children are not patronised by dumbing down the language. The use of upper case letters for emphasis, naturalistic dialogue and judicious ellipsis are all superb teaching tools too as they model just the kind of writing we’d like youngsters to emulate. 

I loved the inclusion woven into the story. Billy has two Mums and no Dad. Her new friend Dorothy is incredibly tall, so that she is frequently teased about her height. Billy is often involved in distracting behaviour at school and gets into trouble – trouble that is at the heart of her falling out with her best friend Dev. These are aspects children can relate to easily. 

That falling out is just one of the themes that will resonate with children as they enjoy the story. I loved the way the relationship between Billy and Dev is portrayed. Billy truly learns and develops through it; and thinking about how our actions impinge on others is handled with incredible dexterity by Samuel J. Halpin. 

But whilst The Case of Dr Dust might be a cracking book for middle grade classroom use, its real strength lies in being a captivating, entertaining and gripping tale of ghosts, dastardly deeds and bravery that readers of all ages will love. I thought it was a belter and not to be missed!

About Samuel J. Halpin

Born in Tasmania with Irish roots, Samuel J. Halpin writes daily. Having studied journalism at the University of New South Wales, Samuel went on to take cinematography at AFTRS, the national Australian film school in Sydney before moving to London and working in comedy TV production. His children’s books are his answer to a childhood raised on a hodgepodge of fairy tales, crowded bookshelves and cups of hot chocolate.

For further information, visit Samuel’s website, find him on Twitter/X @samueljhalpin and on Instagram. 

About Laura Borio

As soon as her parents put pencils in her hands, Laura decided to try them on the kitchen walls. Now she no longer draws on walls but on any other surface, in fact, in addition to digital she loves to draw and paint on wood and paper. In 2008 Laura attended a comic book course and in 2023 she attended a Master in Digital Illustration. Most of her days are full of drawings, but she also likes watching fantasy movies, reading children’s books, practicing Tai Chi, eating pancakes with friends and annoying her cat.

You can find Laura on Instagram.

I so enjoyed Charlotte Butterfield’s The Second Chance (reviewed here) that I was thrilled when her latest novel The Sister Switch turned up in surprise book mail. My huge thanks to Becky Hunter for sending it to me. 

It was my pleasure to record a podcast with Charlotte that you can listen to here and I was even more delighted when I found Linda’s Book Bag mentioned in Charlotte’s acknowledgements at the end of The Sister Switch. 

The Sister Switch is published by Avon on 8th May 2925 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.  

The Sister Switch

Two sisters. One Bet. 

And a lifetime of secrets uncovered…

Morning TV’s favourite twin sisters, Alice and Edie, may share the screen, but that’s where their similarities end. Their viewpoints are far from identical, and whilst their on-air clashes keep viewers hooked, off-camera, their relationship is far from picture-perfect.

After a heated argument on live television threatens their jobs, the fiery duo make a bet: neither could last a week in the other’s shoes. Determined to prove each other wrong, they secretly swap lives ― without telling a soul.

What starts as a battle of wills quickly spirals into chaos, as each sister discovers that the other’s life is far more complicated than it seems. Between dodging awkward work situations, marital issues, and meddling in each other’s families, Alice and Edie’s rivalry turns from a competitive bet into an opportunity to help change each other’s lives for the better.

But will their relationship survive?

My Review of The Sister Switch

Twins Alice and Edie couldn’t be more different…

What a fabulous summer read! I so enjoyed The Sister Switch because it can be read on multiple levels, is hugely entertaining and is a complete diversion from the cares of life.

Firstly there is the funny, fast-paced plot that twists and turns along, as identical twins Alice and Edie swap homes, lives and families in an attempt to win a bet. There are so many moments when I laughed aloud because the story is incredibly funny with many a potentially awkward moment. 

More engaging, however, is what the two sisters learn not just about one another’s lives, but about themselves during the swap. The Sister Swap illustrates to perfection the adage ‘never judge another until you’ve walked in their shoes’ – literally in this case! Alicia and Edie are polar opposites, but the more they live each other’s lives, the more they understand and appreciate why their twin behaves as she does and how much more they actually have in common. 

I found my initial preference for the more freely behaving Edie changed the more I read about Alice. Both women have flaws and foibles, and it was both fascinating and ironic that the more bohemian Edie was actually more selfish than the rigid, self-righteous Alice. I confess it was somewhat disturbing to discover so many of their less appealing traits feature in my own personality! They are incredibly relatable characters.

I’m not usually a big fan of children in stories, but here the characterisation was magnificent, adeptly illustrating the role of nurture in development. Whilst I loathed Alice’s husband with a passion, by the end of the book I did have some sympathy for him too. However, it was Seb who held my heart so completely, because, despite being the most accommodating and supportive character, he is the one who probably suffers the most as a result of the swap. And I think that is the true strength of Charlotte Butterfield’s writing. Whilst the reader is being engaged by a funny romp of a story, they are also being subtly educated about real people too. Indeed, Through wit and entertainment, Charlotte Butterfield examines the nature of human understanding, of empathy and of the impact of behaviour on others, so that the reader learns from The Sister Switch every bit as much as the characters. 

I thought The Sister Switch was fabulous. It made me grateful for my own life. It made me think about others with greater empathy and it entertained me completely. It’s a super read. 

About Charlotte Butterfield

A former magazine editor, Charlotte Butterfield was born in Bristol, England and studied English Literature at the University of London, and a Masters in Gender and Women’s Studies at Birmingham. She moved to Dubai by herself on a one-way ticket with one suitcase in 2005 and left for Rome twelve years later with a husband, three children and a 40ft shipping container. After four years in Italy working as a freelance journalist, living the dolce vita and eating tiramisu with every meal, she now lives in the Cotswolds teaching and writing.

Her first novel won a Montegrappa award at the 2016 Emirates Festival of Literature, and she went on to publish three romantic comedies before pivoting to high-concept women’s fiction with heart. Her second novel in this space, The Family Fix (previously You Get That From Me) was The Times Book of the Month upon publication, and later one of The Times Popular Fiction Books of the Year in 2023. She currently publishes with Avon at Harper Collins UK. Her latest novel, The Second Chance, has been optioned for film by a major Hollywood studio, and her next book, The Sister Switch (aka grown-up Parent Trap) is forthcoming in May 2025.

You’ll find Charlotte on Facebook and Instagram.

As someone who would probably have been a very different person had I actually turned out to be the expected boy who would be called Christopher, I have always been fascinated by the link between names and personality. Consequently, when I was sent The Names by Florence Knapp, I was delighted. My grateful thanks to Sian Baldwin at Orion. It’s my pleasure to share my review of The Names today.

The Names is published by Orion imprint Phoenix on 6th May and is available for purchase through the links here. 

The Names

Tomorrow – if morning comes, if the storm stops raging – Cora will register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she’ll formalise who he will become.

It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes is a risk that will have consequences, but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.

Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image – but is there still a chance to break the mould?

Powerfully moving and full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family, and love’s endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store.

My Review of The Names

Cora needs to register her baby son’s name.

If you are not absolutely prepared to have your heart and soul rent asunder when reading, choose a different book to The Names. This is not so much a book to read as one that will change the very fibre of your being. 

I’m not entirely certain how to approach reviewing The Names. There are plots rather than a plot, but each is inextricably linked to the others and represents possibility through a twist of fate, as well as actuality. Florence Knapp includes both the dramatic and the relatably mundane in a beautiful oscillating text that is mesmerising and absorbing. This is more a book to experience than to read. It feels like a narrative about the perceived surface of life. Give that surface a small scratch and there are multiple aspects below that reverberate with endless permutations and Florence Knapp provides an insight into that deeper life. 

It’s no spoiler to say that Cora is tasked by her husband Gordon with registering the new baby, but what follows is a glimpse of how a simple name can impinge on a life, how a personality can be shaped by a moniker and how destiny can unspool differently because of what we are called, our pasts and upbringing, or what we believe. This book is a beautiful, profound and emotional exploration of nature and nurture, with destiny and self-determinism that suffuses the narrative, making the reader feel its message physically.

The characters of Bear, Julian and young Gordon are completely different, equally compelling and believable and yet they are the same person. Each broke my heart, either because of how they behaved and affected Cora, how they were affected by their violent and abusive father, or because of the events that befell them beyond, as well as because of, their father’s impact in their life. 

The themes of The Names are stunningly handled. Cora and Gordon’s marriage is the one constant. Gordan’s abusive control of Cora remains whilst the other aspects of the plot go through kaleidoscopic shifts. The concepts of marriage and family, trust, compassion, sexuality, public personas versus private behaviours and so, so, much more underpin the narrative. The Names is layered, textured and completely absorbing. 

At its heart, for me The Names is about how we shatter as humans and how we survive. It is filled with coercion and control, sadness and hatred, love, loss and hope and it is totally, totally magnificent. I am aware this  isn’t really a satisfactory review but I think each reader needs to experience The Names for themselves in order to understand my inability to articulate a coherent assessment. Don’t miss it because I cannot recommend it highly enough. 

About Florence Knapp

Florence Knapp has previously written a non-fiction book about a centuries-old method of quilt making, as well as contributing to a book for the V&A Museum. She lives just outside London with her husband and their dog. Their two children have now flown the nest. The Names is Florence’s debut novel and will be translated into more than twenty languages.

For further information, visit Florence’s website, or find Florence on Instagram  and Bluesky.

I’m delighted to share details today of my latest My Weekly online review. This time it is of Graffiti Girls by Elissa Soave. My huge thanks to Isabel Williams for originally sending me a copy of Graffiti Girls. My enormous apologies to Elissa and HQ for the extraneous ‘The’ that has crept into my review! Life was rather challenging at the time and my brain upped and left!

I previously reviewed Elissa’s Ginger and Me in a post you’ll find here. 

Published by HQ on 13th March 2025, Graffiti Girls is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Graffiti Girls

Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan have been best friends since school. Back then they couldn’t wait for the future, for the amazing lives they’d have.

But things haven’t worked out how they expected. Now in their forties, they’re fed up with being taken for granted by their families, being passed over for promotions at work and being told that they’re past their best. And they’re not going to go quietly anymore.

Fuelled by female rage and their charismatic leader Amy, the four embark on a campaign of graffiti in their hometown of Hamilton, scrawling feminist slogans on the walls of local buildings.

But is Hamilton ready for the feminist revolution the Graffiti Girls have in store?

My Review of Graffiti Girls

My full review of Graffiti Girls can be found on the My Weekly website here.

However, here I can say that Graffiti Girls is a fast paced, entertaining triumph of a book that questions the patriarchy and might just have you reaching for your spray can. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself egging on the girls throughout.

Do visit the My Weekly website to read my full review here. 

About Elissa Soave

Elissa Soave won the inaugural Primadonna Prize in 2019. She was also a Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect finalist 2019 and has had work published in various journals and anthologies, including New Writing Scotland, Gutter, and the Glasgow Review of Books. Her first novel, Ginger and Me, was published by HQ, HarperCollins in July 2022, and was shortlisted for the Saltire Society Scottish First Book Award 2023. Her second novel, Graffiti Girls, was published by HQ in March 2025, with her third, The Allotments, coming out in March 2026. Elissa was a judge on the Primadonna Prize 2022 and the Curae Prize 2023 and 2025. She currently lives in South Lanarkshire.

It’s always exciting being in at the start of a book’s life and it’s my total pleasure to help launch Divinity Games by Lou Gilmond into the world today. My thanks to Maddy Dunne-Kirby at Midas PR for inviting me to be part of this. 

Let’s find out more:

Divinity Games

When opposition MP Harry Colbey uncovers a corrupt plot between senior government ministers and a big tech organisation intent on enriching its owners, he finds himself the target of a strange form of harassment. His train pass and credit cards won’t work, his phone won’t get a signal and every traffic light he comes to is red. Only his colleague, Esme Kanha, believes him. She’s investigating the suspicious death of another anti-corruption MP.

But when Colbey’s daughter gets engaged to the son of one of the tech company’s owners, he is forced to venture straight into the heart of the sinister elite. Colbey intends to expose them – but in a world dominated by AI, where every movement is tracked and every conversation listened to, the stakes are dangerously high.

****

Doesn’t that sound intriguing? 

Divinity Games will be published in paperback by Armillary on 17th July 2025 and is available for pre-order through the publisher links here. 

About Lou Gilmond

Lou Gilmond is the author of three political thrillers – Dirty Geese published on 6th July 2023, Palisade published on 21st November 2024 and Divinity Games, to be published on 17th July 2025. But, under her given name of Louise Boland, Lou is also the founder of small, but well-respected publishing house, Fairlight Books, which focuses on nurturing and promoting new and emerging literary talent. She is also the author of Bookshop Tours of Britain, a slow travel guide journeying across Britain, bookshop by bookshop – Lou is a keen champion of bookshops. 

For further information about Lou, visit her website or follow Lou on Twitter/X @FairlightLouise and Instagram. 

My enormous thanks to Ben McClusky at Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of 33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen. I’m delighted that this wonderful novel is my latest My Weekly online review.

It’s taken a little later than hoped to share the review due to staff restructuring. 

Published by Bloomsbury on 11th March 2025, 33 Place Brugmann is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

33 Place Brugmann

Charlotte Sauvin has always seen the world differently. At home on 33 Place Brugmann, in the heart of Brussels, her father and her closest friends and neighbours – the Raphaëls from the fourth floor, and Masha from the fifth – have ensured her secret is safe. But when the Nazis invade Belgium, and Masha and the Raphaëls disappear, Charlotte must navigate her new world alone.

Over the border and across the sea, in occupied Paris and battered Blitz London, Masha and the Raphaels are reinventing themselves – as refugees, nurses, soldiers, heroes. Though scattered far and wide, they dream of only one place, one home: 33 Place Brugmann.

But back at Place Brugmann, Charlotte feels impending danger closing in. Who can she trust in this world – where everyone is watching, and everyone is harbouring their own secrets? As the months pass, and the shadow of war darkens, Charlotte and her neighbours must face what – and who – truly matters to them most – and summon the courage to fight for more than just survival.

With soaring imagination and profound intimacy, 33 Place Brugmann is a captivating and devastating celebration of the power of love, courage and art in times of great threat.

My Review of 33 Place Brugmann

My full review of 33 Place Brugmann can be found on the My Weekly website here.

However, here I can say that 33 Place Brugmann is a beautifully written, profound and moving historical novel that speaks right to the heart of humanity. It’s one of my books of the year and I genuinely believe everyone should read it!

Do visit My Weekly to read my full review here.

About Alice Austen

Alice Austen is an award-winning screenwriter, producer and playwright. While studying law at Harvard, she also worked under Seamus Heaney in the university’s creative writing department. Austen co-founded the Harvard Human Rights Journal and was the first American to receive a fellowship to the European Court of Human Rights. She has been awarded a Royal Court Residency, and her work has been honoured with an Independent Spirit Award and nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award and a Terrence McNally Award. Austen is working on a new film, originated by Alfonso Cuarón. 33 Place Brugmann is her debut novel.

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

I’m hugely grateful to the lovely team at Fly on the Wall for putting me in touch with author Donna Moore as I love the premise of her new book. I’m delighted Donna has agreed to stay in with me to tell me all about it.

Let’s find out more.

Staying in with Donna Moore

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

Thank you so much for having me, Linda! I’m delighted to be here. I love your blog.

Thanks Donna.

And you have a nice comfy space here for ‘staying in’. I also have it on good authority that you serve delicious biscuits to your guests!

Oh I do – help yourself.

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

I’ve brought my new novel, The Devil’s Draper, which is a historical crime fiction novel set in Glasgow in 1920.

It’s the follow-up to The Unpicking, which was set from the late 1870s to 1919, and is the story of three generations of women – grandmother, mother and daughter – who each had their own struggles against inequality and injustice.

I love historical fiction. So, what can we expect from an evening in with The Devil’s Draper?

Well, I hope you’ll enjoy the company of three very different characters, who are unlikely allies in the fight to uncover the truth about a scandal at Arrol’s Department Store. First of all, there’s Mabel, one of Glasgow’s first women police officers (or ‘woman policemen’ as the newspapers of the day would have referred to her!), whose story continues from The Unpicking. Then there’s Johnnie, who’s an adept thief in an all-woman gang called Saint Thenue’s Avengers. Finally, we have Beatrice, a war-widow who runs an employment agency for women. There’s crime and intrigue and, hopefully, a wee dash of humour and lightness amongst the darkness.

That sounds fabulous. I really need to meet Mabel, Johnnie and Beatrice as soon as possible. I’m looking forward to The Devil’s Draper coming out on 1st May.

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

Well, I’ve brought with me a few different things. Three of them represent my three main characters and then I’ve brought one extra, for fun. And I thought we could listen to one of Mabel’s favourite songs as we look at them. It’s called Someday, Sweetheart and it was written in 1919 and was really popular throughout the 1920s. This version is by Alberta Hunter, who was, apparently, the first person to record it.

Wow. What a voice.

First of all, Mabel and I had a chat about her offering. I said she should bring something serious that represents her professional life in the police force, but she wanted me to give you a recipe for one of her favourite desserts (she does love desserts!)

Don’t we all?

This one was also a favourite of both her mother and her grandmother and is mentioned in The Unpicking as well as in The Devil’s Draper. It’s Apricot Pithivier which is a traditional puff pastry dish. I’ve adapted it a wee bit so that it’s easier for a modern cook, but if you’re keen to make your own puff pastry, then Mabel would definitely approve! It can also be made with other fruits, and as a savoury dish with chicken, or ham and cheese, or roasted vegetables.

Wow. I don’t do baking as I’m always battling my weight but Mabel might just have convinced me to make this!

Johnnie has given me something completely different for you. Johnnie is in a very successful all-woman gang and she’s one of their best thieves. The first time we meet her in The Devil’s Draper, she’s gate-crashed a posh wedding with the aim of helping herself to some of the wedding gifts. When I was researching the book, I discovered that back in the early 20th century, society weddings were thoroughly covered in the local press. Not only could you find out what the bride and bridesmaids were wearing, the flowers they were carrying and where the reception was, but there was also a full list of gifts and who gave them. This article from the Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser in May 1920is a lovely example. The article gives details of the wedding of Miss Peggy Ellice and Mr L E Dunlop who had a reception at Invergarry House with a bonfire, dancing and “general rejoicing”, together with a partial list showing sixty-three gifts.

Partial wedding gift list – Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser 8th May 1920.

Some of these gifts made it into The Devil’s Draper, including an eight-volume set of illustrated books about World War I, which I’m not sure I think is a very jolly wedding present. The bride seemed to do quite well as many of the presents were clearly pieces of fancy jewellery for her, but I was happy to see that the groom received a reel for his trout rod. One of the gifts to make it into the scene was an umbrella. I don’t know who it was for, but I think next time I’m going to a wedding, I’m going to ignore the gift registry and buy an umbrella.

Brilliant idea. Much more useful than a muffin dish!

I love the snippets of social history you get from this type of article. As a writer, they give me so much, not only for the choicest wedding gifts of the day, the material and colours of the bridal party’s outfits (Miss Ellice was wearing white charmeuse silk, by the way), or the menu at the wedding breakfast, but they’re also really useful for character names. The giver of the umbrella, for example, is called Eglantine. I’ve tucked that name away for future use! I lose myself going down various research rabbit holes, and most of what I find never makes it onto the page, but I hope it comes through in the writing in some way.

I think a lot of authors do that Donna. It sounds to me like you’ve got plenty of material for future books too. 

Johnnie’s use for the newspapers is much more practical. She’s not interested in the after the event reports of the weddings themselves, but she’s very interested in announcements of forthcoming weddings, only the fancy ones, of course, where it’s announced that Lady This and The Honorable That will be attending, because then she knows where all the choicest gifts will be on display.

An ideal opportunity!

Completing the trio of main characters is Beatrice. She’s older than Mabel and Johnnie, and a war widow who runs an employment agency for women. She wanted me to bring in a photograph from a recent tour I went on, which goes behind the scenes of Glasgow Central Train Station. It was a fascinating tour, which takes you on a journey into the past and below the tracks, revealing a disused Victorian platform and uncovering stories of the people who used to work there. The thing I found most surprising and poignant, though, was the information that, a few floors below the main station, part of the building had been used as a temporary mortuary during the early months of World War I. Some artefacts from this period were found in disused storerooms and cupboards, including a wheelchair made from a child’s pram and a stretcher.

Artefacts from the Glasgow Central tour (photo by author)

The bodies would be brought to this makeshift mortuary and laid in rows on stretchers, covered by blankets. Relatives would walk along those rows of bodies to try and identify their loved ones. If they did, it was then up to them to take the body away to give their son or husband or brother a proper burial. Men who were out of work, too old to fight, or injured would be waiting in Central Station to earn a few pennies to bring the bodies up the several flights of stairs. It was very moving to hear that story.

That sounds both fascinating and poignant.

As for my own gift, I’ve brought you a photo of Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, a German avant-garde poet and artist, who may actually, have been the creator of the famous porcelain urinal artwork, Fountain, generally attributed to Marcel Duchamp. She lived in New York for several years and was well known in Greenwich Village due to her artistic style of dress – wearing a coal scuttle on her head, postage stamps on her cheeks and adorning her outfits with things she found on the street: curtain rings, children’s toys, flashing lights and gilded vegetables. I’m fascinated by her story and used her as inspiration for a minor character, Dadaist artist Countess Colette von der Weid, who was an absolute joy to write.

Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven. Photo from the Library of Congress.

Goodness me! She looks and sounds quite a character.

Thanks so much for staying in with me to chat about The Devil’s Draper and the research that has gone into it. It sounds an absolute must read for me.

Thanks again, Linda, for allowing me to stay in with you and chat. And thank you for the tea and the delicious home made biscuits. I’m sorry, but it appears as though I’ve eaten them all!

Oh – so you have. Never mind. You put the kettle on for another cuppa and I’ll give readers a few more details about The Devil’s Draper.

The Devil’s Draper

FROM THE AUTHOR OF ‘THE UNPICKING‘

When whispers of abuse at Arrol’s department store reach Mabel, a determined policewoman, she knows she must act. Enlisting the help of Johnnie, a cunning thief, and Beatrice, a savvy businesswoman, they embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth.

Set against the backdrop of 1920s Glasgow, where women’s voices are often silenced, this thrilling tale weaves together crime, justice, and the fight for equality. As the trio inches closer to exposing the scandal, they realize that in a world where women are rarely believed, their very lives may be at stake.

Published by Fly on the Wall on 1st May, The Devil’s Draper is available here. 

About Donna Moore

Donna Moore is the author of crime fiction and historical fiction. Her first novel, a Private Eye spoof called Go To Helena Handbasket, won the Lefty Award for most humorous crime fiction novel and her second novel, Old Dogs, was shortlisted for both the Lefty and Last Laugh Awards. Her short stories have been published in various anthologies and her Cornell Woolrich inspired short story, First You Dream, Then You Die was shortlisted for an Edgar Award in 2023. In her day job she works as an adult literacy tutor for marginalised and vulnerable women. She has a PhD in creative writing around women’s history and gender-based violence, and her third novel, The Unpicking, set in Victorian and Edwardian Scotland and spanning three generations of ‘hysterical women’ who experience systemic corruption and injustice, was published in October 2023. The follow-up, The Devil’s Draper, will be published in May 2025 by Fly On The Wall Press.

For further information about Donna, visit her website or find her on Bluesky and Instagram. 

I was sorely disappointed when I was asked by Kova PR  if I’d like to attend a preview screening a couple of weeks ago of the brand new film The Penguin Lessons, starring Steve Coogan and based on the book of the same name by Tom Michell, but I wasn’t able to get to Soho in time after my regular book group meeting. However, I’m delighted to welcome Tom to Linda’s Book Bag today to chat with me all about the film and the book The Penguin Lessons.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Tom Michell

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Tom and thank you for staying in with me. Which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

This would be The Penguin Lessons!

I thought it might be! What can we expect from an evening in with The Penguin Lessons – both the book and the film?

Converting a book into a film is a very interesting process, but not full of astonishing things, it’s all quite logical really.

1.   Films have to cut out a great deal. A 2 hour film cannot cover a 10 hour read.
2.   Much of my book is a description of what I can see, what I’m doing and what I’m thinking about. That monologue has to be a dialogue and events have to happen to people. That appears to require lots of changes. BUT… if you think about the conversations with the fictitious people required for the dialogue as being nothing other than the monologue in Tom’s mind then the two things, book and film are very closely aligned. Think of the Life of Pi. Was the huge Bengal tiger in the life boat real, or in Pi’s mind? Without the terrifying man eating monster in the lifeboat with the boy, there is nothing but a boy, bobbing about in a boat for days, struggling to survive. That isn’t an interesting film. But let us see the tiger and Bingo!!
3.   The story of the penguin is identical in book and film.

Interesting. I think the timing is one of the reasons I prefer to read rather than listen to audio books (apart from the fact that I’m at an age where I nod off). It takes so long to read it to me and, you’re right, films must be selective.

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

The thing that brings me greatest pleasure is the incorporation of The Penguin Lessons into the national curriculum of South Korea. I have the textbook.

Wow! That’s amazing Tom. How exciting.

When a nation of some 50 million people (and arguably the highest educational standard in the world) comes to a totally unknown author and says ‘We want to put your story in front of our most precious asset, our youth, our high school children of 14 – 16 years of age, because it has something about it which we believe is good and will help them.’ That is orders of magnitude greater than any literary prize, even if it doesn’t have all the razzamataz and self-congratulatory hype associated with those rewards. 

I think education is worth far more than endless awards Tom. Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about The Penguin Lessons. Congratulations on both the film and the book.

The Penguin Lessons

Tom Michell is in his roaring twenties: single, free-spirited and seeking adventure. He has a plane ticket to South America, a teaching position in a prestigious Argentine boarding school, and endless summer holidays.

What he doesn’t need is a pet. What he really doesn’t need is a pet penguin.

But while on holiday in Uruguay he spots a penguin struggling in an oil slick and knows he has to help. And then the penguin refuses to leave his side . . .

Clearly Tom has no choice but to smuggle it across the border, through customs, and back to school. He names him Juan Salvador.

Whether it’s as the rugby team’s mascot, the housekeeper’s confidant, the host at Tom’s parties or the most flamboyant swimming coach in world history, Juan Salvador transforms the lives of all he meets – including Tom, who discovers a compadre like no other . . .

The Penguin Lessons film came out from Lionsgate on 18th April 2025 and the book is published, appropriately, by Penguin and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

About Tom Michell

Tom Michell was born and grew up on the rural downs of southern England, where he grew to love animals, birds and plants. After living in Argentina he returned home and settled in Cornwall where he helps with the family business, tends a small plot of what he calls ‘good Cornish soil’ and sings with a local choir. He is an amateur artist and in his spare time he draws and paints subjects from the wildlife around his home, specializing in birds of prey. Tom is an enthusiastic proponent of understanding how humans can live in genuinely sustainable ways. He is married with four grown-up children and three grandchildren.