Author: bookafterbook

Publication: 3rd July 2025 – Hemlock Press

Met detective Eden Driscoll never wanted a child, but when his estranged sister vanishes from her sailboat, he is asked to look after her son Finn – the nephew he hadn’t even known existed.

Resettled in the seaside town of Teignmouth, Eden adjusts to his newfound parenthood. Then Finn disappears from school, and Eden knows something is dreadfully wrong.

When Eden’s sister’s body is finally found, floating in the sea, local police rule her death an accident, but Eden isn’t convinced. She was an experienced sailor and would never sail without a life jacket. Eden starts searching his sister’s life for answers, and what he discovers changes everything.

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The Red Shore is my first novel by William Shaw and it will not be my last. I read it in two days (unfortunately, work got in the way) and I loved it so much. The atmospheric setting, the complex and authentic characters, the twisty and suspenseful story, and the addictive writing kept me glued to the pages.

The protagonist of the novel is Police DS Eden Driscoll whose childhood and upbringing was as intriguing and intense as the mystery he must solve. At the beginning, he is a bit of a mystery, but slowly his past and his own character are revealed as he is called to the Devon seaside village of Teignmouth to take care of Finn, the nine-year-old nephew he didn’t know he had, following his estranged sister’s sudden disappearance. Eden hasn’t seen his sister, Apple, in more than 12 years, but when she disappears in the middle of the night while out in the sea with her boat, leaving behind her son, Eden not only must figure out what happened to her, but also take care of Finn, which is not an easy feat when Eden doesn’t want to be a parent and the only thing that Finn wants is his own mother.

The mystery of Apple’s disappearance kept me completely intrigued and the fact that almost every chapter ended with some kind of surprise or twist didn’t make it easy to stop reading it. I also loved the relationship between Eden and Finn: it’s difficult from the start, but I loved how Eden makes an effort to be there for Finn, even when Finn keeps pushing him away, and how their relationship develops.

I am hoping The Red Shore is going to be the first of a series featuring Eden Driscoll, and hopefully even Finn, and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author!

A huge thank you to Hemlock Press and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

William Shaw has been a journalist, writing for the Observer, New York Times and Wired, among others. He has written over 10 crime novels and has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and nominated for a Barry Award. His new series features DI Eden Driscoll, and is set in Devon

Publication: 3rd July 2025 – Simon & Schuster UK

Their story might be scripted, but the chemistry is real.

When Cynthie Taylor gets her first real acting job, starring in a small British movie, she is over the moon. There’s only one problem . . . Cynthie’s arrogant and annoyingly handsome co-star Jack hates her, and the feeling is definitely mutual. While they may be at war behind the scenes, their on-screen chemistry is palpable, and the studio sees an opportunity – have the two young stars fake a romance that will charm fans and draw crowds.

Thirteen years later, Cynthie and Jack have successfully kept their promise to stay far away from one another, until a surprising offer comes to make a sequel to the cult classic that launched their careers. But there’s a catch: they must also rekindle their pretend relationship . . . and this time there’s a documentary crew following their every move.

Cynthie and Jack both desperately need this film to work, but can two ex-rivals ever really trust each other? And what happens when the roles they’re playing start to feel all too real?

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It’s my turn on the blog tour for Let’s Make A Scene, the incredible new novel by Laura Wood.

I first started reading Laura Wood through her YA historical novels which I enjoyed very much, but her adult novels made her one of my favourite authors, first with Clemmie and Theo’s beautiful love story in Under Your Spell and now with Let’s Make A Scene. It’s been a few days since I’ve finished reading it and I am still thinking about not only Cynthie and Jack’s swoony romance, but also the wonderful cast of characters who surround them. 

Let’s Make A Scene is an enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance told in two different timelines: thirteen years earlier, Cynthie Taylor and Jack Turner-Jones get their first important acting job, playing two star-crossed lovers in Regency England and, on the set, their chemistry was off the charts, but off the set their dislike for each other turned into elaborate pranks and continuous bickering; thirteen years later, Cynthie’s classy, understated, English rose image is marred by a scandal. To restore her image she needs to not only accept to make the sequel of the movie that made her famous, but also pretend to be dating her former enemy, Jack.

Once again, Laura Wood created an addictive, well-written, and wonderful story. I loved the characters of Cynthie and Jack. They feel relatable and authentic: Cynthie has always dreamt of becoming an actress, she is enthusiastic, lively, and resilient, and when her own family practically abandoned her, she created her own family through her friends. All his life, Jack had to deal with the expectations and criticisms of his overachieving parents and becoming an actor has always been his road. He is thoughtful, charming, and I just adored him: he reads Jane Austen and I kept imagining him either as Andrew Garfield or Jonathan Bailey.

There is second-chance romance, chemistry, friendship, witty banter and humor, character development, and Laura Wood neatly takes from the best romcom movies: there is the Bill-Pullman-Leaning scene from While You Were Sleeping, the wet shirt moment, the lift scene from Dirty Dancing, and she masterfully recreates the Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling’s Best Kiss Moment at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. I can’t recommend Let’s Make A Scene enough and I can’t wait to read whatever she is planning next!

A huge thank you to SJV and Simon & Schuster UK for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a proof of this wonderful novel.

Follow the rest of the blog tour:

Laura Wood is an author and an academic. Her debut adult novel, Under Your Spell, has sold into seventeen languages. Let’s Make a Scene is her second romance book for adults. She is also a bestselling and acclaimed author of children’s and young adult novels. Laura has a PhD in nineteenth century literature, and lives in Warwickshire with her husband and their dog, Bea. You can visit lauraclarewood.com and follow her on Instagram @lauracwood.

Publication: 19th June 2025 – Zaffre Books

In the quaint town of Hoslewit, the biggest names in crime writing have congregated to celebrate all things bookish and murderous. With a programme packed with seminars and signings, egos and alcohol, it’s sure to be a thrilling weekend.

Author Jane Hepburn is determined this is going to be her year. She’s not quite reached the heady heights of best-sellerdom yet, but is convinced that if she can just make the right connections at the festival, it could be the start of a whole new chapter for her and her books.

Then her literary agent is killed, and Jane’s plans are derailed. But if she can solve the murder, perhaps it will provide the boost her writing career needs? If she lives to tell the tale, that is.

Set in the world of books, and for fans of Richard Osman and Richard Coles, Janice Hallett and Nita Prose, A Novel Murder is the book you’ll be dying to read.

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Although I had a bit of a slow start, A Novel Murder turned out to be a fun and engrossing read. Set during a literary crime convention, it features murder, secrets, and an insightful look into the world of publishing.

The protagonist of the novel is Jane Hepburn, a struggling writer whose crime series hasn’t achieved the success she (and her agent and editor) hoped for. Awkward and not very good at socialising, Jane hopes that the Killer Lines Crime Fiction Festival in Hoslewit, in Cumbria, will give her a chance to make her books known to the people who matter in publishing, so, on the second day of the festival, she sneaks into one of the tents to put her books on display only to find the body of her own agent, stabbed with a dagger. Channeling the protagonist of her own book series, detective Sandra Baker, Jane starts investigating, first as a way to promote her books and then to find justice for a woman who very few people seemed to like.

Most of the story is told from the point of view of Jane, but we also get the perspectives of the secondary characters, from the two new friends Jane makes who help her investigate the murder to the various suspects who may have wanted to kill the victim. Jane is an interesting character. Socially anxious, eager to make new friends, but always doubting herself, we learn more about her life and her past throughout the novel, and we also see her develop into a more confident and determined character by the end of the story. 

The murder mystery is well-developed and full of surprises. Like Jane, I felt everyone could be a suspect and I enjoyed trying to solve the case with her. Well-written, witty, and compelling, A Novel Murder is a fantastic debut and I was excited to learn that there is going to be a sequel!

A huge thank you to Zaffre Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.

E C Nevin is the pen name for Eve Hall, who is a fiction editor as well as a writer. Despite what A Novel Murder may imply, she really does like her book industry colleagues. Most of them anyway.
Eve lives in Bristol with her partner and two dogs.

Publication: 24th June 2025 – Headline Eternal

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP is the second in a new Regency romp of a series from the author of the Merriwell Sisters series! In this hilarious historical rom-com, a single lord is forced to settle down…and when a houseparty brings a happy-go-lucky lady’s companion his way, his grumpy heart is unexpectedly warmed.

Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby was publicly humiliated by a failed romantic gesture. Now, with the clock ticking on a promise he made to his mother to make her a grandmother by his thirtieth birthday, Guy is horrified to see his incorrigible mother taking matters into her own hands: she’s organised a week-long house party at his estate . . . with every debutante she can think of.

Lottie Travers is not a very good lady’s companion. Despite years of trying, she still climbs trees better than she embroiders, and would always rather be riding horses. But now, with her family’s finances relying on her wages, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all.

Overwhelmed with eligible women, there is only one who catches Guy’s eye, no matter how hard he tries to deny it. For Lottie, succeeding in her job proves difficult when the Wennington estate is filled with horses and there is a definite spark between her and the grumpy lord.

Neither of them is quite what the other expected, but could they in fact be the perfect match?

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I adore the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series. Each character is unique and I love how their stories develop. Also, I am a huge fan of Virginia Heaths’ writing and she is one of my favourite authors when it comes to historical romance.

Look Before You Leap is the second book in this delightful series whose protagonists are the pupils educated at the prestigious school of Miss Prentice where they can learn to become governesses or lady’s companions. Charlotte “Lottie” Travers grew up on her family farm in Kent with her father and her four brothers, so she was quite surprised when she received the letter inviting her to attend the school. Over the years she may have adapted to city life, but her love for horses hasn’t diminished and she “borrows” a horse to go riding in the park whenever she can even if it gets her in trouble or fired. The hero of the story is Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, who, after a humiliating and public declaration of love went horribly wrong, has retired to the family estate, refusing any attempts to find a suitable wife by his interfering mother. I love how these two characters clash from their first disastrous meeting riding in Hyde Park to Lottie’s getting involved in organizing his surprise birthday party full of debutantes hoping to become his wife.

Look Before You Leap is such a witty, delightful, and fun read featuring a grumpy vs sunshine romance, an interfering and headstrong mother-aunt duo, lots of banter, and wonderful side characters that made me laugh out loud. A fantastic addiction to this entertaining series that left me already looking forward to the next one!

A huge thank you to Headline Eternal and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty-one books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Publication: 19th June 2025 – HarperCollins UK

The most romantic house in Cornwall has got a new owner…

Journalist Georgie Monroe has watched as it has been transformed into a high-tech glass palace, renovated by a mystery buyer.

When she’s invited to report on an event there, she comes face to face not only with her first love, architect Ethan Sparks, but also with their complicated past. Finding themselves trapped inside when the house malfunctions, Georgie realises that they ― and the house ― are still keeping secrets.

But have Georgie and Ethan left it too late to start again, or can they write the next chapter of their love story together?

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A Cornish Love Story is not my first Cressida McLaughlin’s novel, but, without a doubt, it’s my favourite. I read it in one day, completely engrossed in the two protagonists and their love story and drawn by the beautiful setting of Cornwall.

The story follows Georgie Monroe and Ethan Spark as their story alternates between the past and the present. Thirteen years ago, Georgie and Ethan, then eighteen-years-old, met and fell in love in their last year of school. Ethan is the new boy in town, while Georgie has lived in the Cornish village with her mother her whole life. Georgie is obsessed with a romance series by a local author and she dreams, one day, of becoming an author herself, while Ethan wants to be an architect. However, their love, young and authentic, is complicated by their families: Georgie is at her sick and overprotective mother’s beck and call, while Ethan often must rush away to help his rebellious younger sister. At the present time, Georgie still lives in town working as a part-time journalist for the local paper and a personal assistant for her idol, the author of the romance series she loved so much. She needs to cover the open house of a super high-tech mansion and Ethan is the architect behind all the work. They haven’t seen each other in 13 years, since they broke up, and there are many things that they have to face and resolve. Luckily, they have time as the super intelligent house, a house that had history with both her and Ethan, locks them in.

I loved this novel so much. The writing is captivating and I loved how the past intertwines with the present, how the characters develop and face their past and their story, and how it all ends beautifully, even though I never wanted it to end! Highly recommended!

A huge thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this beautiful novel.

Cressida McLaughlin is a bestselling author of contemporary romance who has sold over a million copies of her books. Her feel-good, escapist fiction, featuring unforgettable characters who find their happy place, has established her as a firm favourite among readers and fellow authors alike.

Cressida lives in Norwich with her husband David and when not writing her bestsellers, spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.

Publication: 5th June 2025 (paperback) – Bloomsbury Books

No one knows better than Ian Palmer – Executive Butler – that social position is everything in the rose-strewn Cotswolds.

So when his boss, Tata Hawkins, flounces out of her (new-build) manor house after a row with husband Bryan, Ian is alarmed: for one thing, if Tata is on the social slide downwards, that means he is too; for another, he’s lost his home and has nowhere to store his prized collection of vintage Gucci loafers; even worse, a vacuum among the Country Princess set has opened up for a new Queen Bee.

With the old-money Pennybacker-Hoare sisters plotting to rid ‘their’ county of Tata and her ilk, a bikini influencer on the prowl for a husband just like Mr. Hawkins, a glamorous American divorcee threatening to steal Tata’s crown, and the heiress-next-door threatening to steal Ian, the Cotswolds are in chaos.

Can Ian restore Tata’s country crown and reinstate her to the comforts of the Manor?

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I have always enjoyed Plum Sykes’s novels for their comedy and witticism and Wives Like Us is another fun and refreshing read. The story is set in Oxfordshire among the richest and the wealthiest whose ordinary life of lunches, parties, and gossiping is disrupted by the arrival of a dazzling American divorcée everyone wants to befriend.

A cast of eclectic characters kept me quite entertained as they navigate family drama, secrets, new friendships, and new loves. At the center of it all, making sure that everything goes according to plan, there is Ian Palmer, Executive Butler, graduated summa cum laude from the Greycoats’ Butler Institute in Mayfair. Every woman and man in Oxfordshire wished that Ian was theirs. Efficient, smart, loyal, always ready for any difficulty, and with a huge collection of loafers, Ian is a driver, a concierge, a fixer, and a friend to Tara Hawkins, queen of The Bottoms. So, when Tara moves them to the family estate’s huge coach house after a disagreement with her husband, Ian is not worried. When a young influencer moves into the family home with Tara’s husband, he has a spy already on the spot. When Tara manages to befriend the new arrival in the village, he is ready to organize the best dinner ever, because he knows what is required of him.

Wives Like Us is a witty and sharp read with a terrific protagonist in Ian Palmer, butler extraordinaire, and lots of hilarious and enjoyable scenes that kept me quite entertained from the first to the last page!

A huge thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this delightful novel.

Plum Sykes was born in London in 1969, the daughter of a fashion designer and an art dealer. She was educated at Oxford, where she studied Modern History. She started her career as an intern at British Vogue in London, and in 1997 was offered a job as a fashion writer by Anna Wintour, the Editor-In-Chief at American Vogue. She moved to New York to take up the position, and covered fashion and society for the magazine. In 2003 she started writing her first comic novel, Bergdorf Blondes, which was published in 2004 and stayed on the New York Times Bestseller List for 16 weeks, and became a Best Seller in the UK and in many countries around the world. She published her second novel, The Debutante Divorcee, in 2006. Her third novel, Party Girls Die in Pearls was published in 2016. She has written various teleplays and screenplays, and continues to work for American Vogue as a Contributing Editor. Plum now lives in England with her husband and two children, Ursula and Tess. Her fourth novel, Wives Like Us, a comic satire of glamorous wives in the English countryside, is published on May 14 2024.

Publication: 10th April 2025 – Penguin Books UK

THE GREATER THE LOVE, THE HARDER THE FALL . . .

Ellie didn’t expect to fall in love while travelling in Europe. But she also didn’t expect to meet a man like Ash.

Three blistering days in Lisbon is all it takes to form an unforgettable connection – deep enough for them to plan to meet again in Madrid. But Ellie arrives late, and Ash is nowhere to be found.

Six years later, the memory of Ash and their time together still burns deeply in Ellie’s heart. She hopes that her dream job as a gardener on a grand estate in Wales will bring the fresh start she desperately needs.

But when Ash unexpectedly crashes back into her life, Ellie is forced to question if the universe has other plans…

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I knew that once I started reading a Paige Toon’s novel I wouldn’t be able to put it down until the end and that’s what happened with her latest novel, What If I Never Got Over You. The beautiful and evocative descriptions of Portugal and Wales, the multi-layered, relatable, and likable characters, and Ellie and Ash’s beautiful and emotional love story kept me up until late at night.

Ellie and Ash first met in Lisbon, both in their early twenties, both interrailing, both grieving a loss, both with overbearing parents and a future planned. Their attraction is mutual and instant and they make plans to meet a week later. But destiny, or the universe, or something else has other plans for them and it’s six years before they meet again, carrying with them the responsibilities of the present and a past that haunts them.

I loved this story so much. When we first meet Ellie she is on the terrace of a hostel reading a book (and without spoiling it, a great choice of a book) with a future already planned by her parents to whom she can’t ever say no. The book is soon forgotten as Ash sits next to her. He is charming, easy-going, and he is following his dreams. When they meet six years later, everything has changed, for both of them, and there are many obstacles that they must face and solve. I fell completely in love with these characters and their stories are a roller coaster of emotions.

I am a huge fan of Paige Toon and What If I Never Got Over You is another wonderful and heart-warming novel that kept me hooked from the first to the last page!

A huge thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Paige Toon is the bestselling author of seventeen adult novels and three young adult titles, and her books have sold over 2 million copies worldwide.

Paige writes sweeping, emotional love stories filled with incredible settings and characters you’ll never forget. She tells nuanced stories with big, thought- provoking themes at their heart which leave you uplifted and believing in the power of love. You will laugh, cry and feel like you’ve become part of a new family. She lives in Cambridgeshire with her husband and their two children.

Publication: 17th April 2025 – Hodderscape

She might win the throne. She might destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder.

After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders will compete to replace him.

Trained at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal – Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth – the Dragon proxy – will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists – the best of the best.

Then one of them is murdered.

It falls to the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, darker forces are gathering.

If Neema succeeds, she could win the throne – whether she wants it or not. But if she fails, she will sentence herself to death – and set in motion a sequence of events that could doom the empire . . .

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The Raven Scholar was exactly the type of fantasy novel I was looking for: addictive, with a wonderful world-building, fantastic characters, and beautifully-written.

The story is witty and funny, told by a narrator who tells the story with humor and boldness, and there is political intrigue, murder mystery, and a deadly competition to become the next emperor that kept me on the edge of my seat.

At the center of the story there is Neema Kraa, a Raven Scholar who spends more time among books than people and then suddenly finds herself thrown into the competition. She is not prepared for the tournament and no one wants to see her win. Also, the current emperor tasks her in solving the murder of another contestant, everyone is keeping secrets, and there is a sentient raven who won’t leave her alone. I really liked the character of Neema: socially awkward, often lonely, and too smart for her own good, I found her relatable and compelling. The secondary characters are also very interesting: Cain is charming and entertaining, Benna is quite overenthusiastic, Bersun is not what I expected, and even Ruko is still a mystery, so I am looking forward to seeing more of him in the sequel!

The story is very well-plotted and the writing kept me glued to the pages: there are intrigue, twists and mystery, there are malevolent gods and interfering ravens, and there is also some romance that it’s not central to the story, but still kept me intrigued. The ending was explosive and unexpected and left me looking forward to reading the sequel!

A huge thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.

Antonia Hodgson has written four acclaimed historical crime novels. She won the CWA Historical Dagger for The Devil in the Marshalsea, and her work has also been shortlisted for numerous awards including the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year.

Antonia’s first (unpublished) novel was a gothic fantasy and her dream has always been to write an epic series, given the chance. In 2020 she set to work on The Raven Scholar and is now busy finishing its sequel.

Publication: 6th May 2025 – Simon & Schuster Children’s UK

Fall head over broomstick in love with this swoon-worthy, witchy romantic fantasy, perfect for fans of Twin Crowns, Divine Rivals and Stephanie Garber.

For the Kingdom. For the magic. And for love . . .

Seventeen-year-old Aurelia Wycherley is entering her debutante season as a witch. Aurelia should be excited about finding the perfect match to tether her magic to. But her magic is cursed – dark, dangerous, and not the kind that her peers want to match with – and, without a tether, she faces losing her magic completely.

But when Aurelia learns that enigmatic, aloof Jules, a member of arch enemy family the Nightlys, is searching for a way that a witch can keep their magic without tethering, she realises he may be her only hope. A forbidden alliance is formed . . . but as they navigate the Magical Season with its glamoured balls and perilous trials, they uncover dark forces that threaten their families and the magical world they live in.

Expect family secrets, generational curses, forbidden romance, gorgeous ballgowns, bribery, extortion, trespass, magic and kissing . . . lots of kissing.

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This was such a delightful read! I read it during the weekend and, every time I put it down, I couldn’t wait to go back and immerse myself again in this fantastic alternate Regency London, where young people entering society must find a magical partner with whom to tether to retain their magic.

The protagonist, Aurelia Wycherley, is a young witch who, because of a centuries old curse, won’t be able to tether with anyone, so she will lose her magic. For this reason, most of the witches have excluded her and keep away from her, except for her family and her best friend Constance. I really liked the character of Aurelia. She is strong and smart and even when everyone shuns her out, she doesn’t give up, especially when she finds out that there could be a way to retain her magic without tethering. Enter Jules Nightly. The Wycherleys and the Nightlys are archenemies, but Aurelia would do anything to keep her magic even if it means first blackmailing and then team up with Jules. I loved their chemistry and their witty exchanges and I can’t wait to explore more of their relationship in the sequel.

The story is fast-paced and compelling. Aside from the romance, I liked the magic bonds between partners, and also the close friendship that Aurelia has with Constance and the relationship with her brother Vaughan. And while the main plot focuses on Aurelia and Jules trying to find an alternative to tethering and their relationship, there is also an intriguing mystery as they get involved in the strange murders of some witches around London.

Overall, The Wycherleys is well-written, action-packed, and immersive and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

A huge thank you to Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Annaliese has always loved stories. As a child, she would regularly rollerskate to her local library to stock up on new books to read. She was nearly always in trouble with the librarians for having not returned her books on time. Annaliese would go on to become a librarian herself one day and use her position as library manager to be more understanding to the young readers at her library who returned books late.

Annaliese has always felt the power of good stories but equally enjoys being lost in the wonder of books with facts/non-fiction. As a child, Annaliese read her way through all 20 volumes of THE NEW CAXTON ENCYCLOPEDIA. She also collected a magazine series called Quest, and its exploration of science helped trigger a love of physics and astronomy.

In 2013 Annaliese founded an astronomical society, DASH Astro.

One of her ambitions in life is to have her own observing dome.

Publication: 14th May 2025 – Bookouture

Move over, Inspector! Lady Poppy Proudfoot is here to solve her very first case.

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot travels to the Highlands for a midsummer party, the last thing she and her fellow guests expect is for a body to wash up beside the loch.

Despite protests that it could have been an accident, Poppy is convinced it’s murder and decides to dust off her law degree and hunt for clues. But when the police arrive, the grumpy Inspector MacKenzie dismisses her evidence, insisting a crime scene is no place for a Lady. The nerve!

With the help of her trusted Labrador, Major, Poppy begins to unpick the case. But she soon has two mysteries to solve, as her host Lady Constance Balfour claims a diamond and emerald bracelet has been stolen. Could the two cases be linked? Was it Freddy the footman, a favourite of her ladyship? Or American actress Miss Cornett, with a keen eye for jewels? Or with such a dazzling guestlist, was someone from the local village tempted into the grounds by the party?

When a woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Poppy is attacked, she realizes that someone wants her off the case. Someone connected to Balfour House is a murderer and a thief, but who? And can Poppy solve the mystery before she, too, washes up beside the loch?

A warm, unputdownable page-turning historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.

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Death at the Highland Loch is my first novel by Lydia Travers and I enjoyed it very much. The writing is immersive and the story is fun, mysterious, and fast-paced with a strong female protagonist.

The novel is set in Scotland in 1924, specifically in a house party in the Highlands. The protagonist, Lady Poppy Proudfoot, is independent and strong-minded, having also gained her own law degree. Accompanied by her loyal labrador, Major, Poppy is expecting a relaxing stay with Lady Balfour and her guests, which include actors and movie producers, when, first she is asked to find a diamond that has disappeared and then someone is found murdered by the loch. Poppy, with a passion for solving mysteries and armed with a notebook and a pen, starts to investigate, very much to the annoyance of the grumpy Inspector MacKenzie. 

First of all, I loved the setting of the Highlands with also a brief stop at Edinburgh, having finally visited Scotland myself and being now completely obsessed with it. The story and the mysteries are also well-plotted. There is the disappearance of a jewelry and a murder and I liked how the twists in both cases kept me quite intrigued. Poppy is an interesting character. Her determination in solving the cases puts her (and also those close to her) in danger, but I enjoyed how she turns into a resourceful amateur sleuth and her witty exchanges with Inspector MacKenzie were quite entertaining.

Death at the Highland Loch is an engaging and compelling cozy historical mystery and I am looking forward to reading more about Poppy and Major’s adventures!

A huge thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Lydia Travers writes historical cosy crimes; and historical romances under the name Linda Tyler. She is an award-winning author. Born in London, she moved progressively north until settling with her husband in a village on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. She has kept chickens, bred dogs and raised children. A former legal academic and practitioner, she runs self-catering holiday accommodation, sings in a local choir and is walked daily by her dog. She loves to read reviews from readers who have enjoyed her novels. Lydia is a member of the Crime Writers Association.