Book After Book

Publication: 1st March 2019 – Panther Publishing

When PI Jordan Jenner returns to work following the death of his mother, his first case involves a murdered writer…

James Fairview has been killed. As a member of a prestigious writing group hosted by bestselling author Joseph Gordon in the heart of Cardiff, Jordan not only has to cope with solving the mystery, but also deal with press attention. 

As Jordan investigates, he discovers his mother’s death may not have been so simple. And when another writer is murdered, Jordan realises the killer could strike again… 

A murdered writer, a mysterious death, and a group with jealousy at its heart, this is Jenner’s toughest case yet.

A cosy murder mystery with a gay male detective, Murder on the Rocks is the first in the Jordan Jenner Mysteries series. If you’re a fan of classic whodunits you will love this! 

A perfect read for those looking for Welsh crime fiction. 

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Happy Monday, happy new week. I am delighted to kick off the blog tour for MURDER ON THE ROCKS by J. S. Strange, the first thrilling novel in the Jordan Jenner Mysteries. I’d like to thank Emma for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of the novel.

Private detective Jordan Jenner is back at work after the death of his mother and his first case is helping the Cardiff police solving the murder of James Fairview, an aspiring author poisoned during a writing retreat. It seems that everyone in the writing group hated James, but who hated him enough to kill him? And as the case becomes more personal for Jordan, another member of the group disappears…

MURDER ON THE ROCKS is a fantastic first book to a new gripping series. Jordan Jenner is an interesting character. The author made him very realistic, but also complex, with his own problems, troubles, and a complicated and unresolved relationship with his mother. He is smart, funny, and very good at his job, even when his personal and professional life unexpectedly blend.

I liked the author’s writing style. J. S. Strange knows how to keep the reader’s attention and to build up the tension high with a dark atmosphere and twists that took me always by surprise. Everyone in the writing retreat is a potential suspect, everyone has a motive, and I didn’t figure out who the killer was until it was revealed in the end. The novel ends with a fantastic revelation and a little anticipation to the second novel which I am really looking forward to reading!

J.S. Strange is an author from Wales, United Kingdom. He writes crime, mystery and horror. His first novels, published in 2016 and 2017, were set in an apocalyptic London. Murder on the Rocks, is the first in a cozy crime mystery series, featuring a leading gay male detective.

Murder on the Rocks was written by Strange for many reasons. One of those reasons was a lack of representation within the crime genre, particularly with detectives and sleuths. Strange created Jordan Jenner, a private investigator, who lives and works in Cardiff. Murder on the Rocks was written with the intention of shining light on Cardiff, and bringing Cardiff, and furthermore, Wales, into the crime genre.

Strange’s previous works, such as ‘Winter Smith: London Burning’, also explored LGBT themes, and featured socialite Winter Smith escaping a zombie apocalypse. ‘London’s Burning’ became an Amazon best-seller in LGBT fiction.

When Strange doesn’t write, he works in television. He also presents a radio show all about the paranormal. He has an enthusiasm for Britney Spears and cats.

Jack can be reached on Twitter: @JackSamStrange

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackSamStrange @JackSamStrange

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackSamuelStrange/

Website: https://jacksamstrange.com/?fbclid=IwAR1DGDgRPWre63XkLzW8kkcnBy2BBZ2g9TFTNU71K8vnJUDDapY_6igh4nA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsstrange/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B01AUNFQ78?_encoding=UTF8&redirectedFromKindleDbs=true&ref_=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1&rfkd=1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Rocks-Mystery-Jordan-Mysteries/dp/1527235521/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Rocks-Mystery-Jordan-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07L2FRDB8/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=murder+on+the+rocks&qid=1557827818&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/murder-on-the-rocks/j-s-strange/9781527235526

 

Publication: 13th April 2019 (eBook); 13th June 2019 (paperback) – Orenda Books

One dark January night a car drives at high speed towards PI Varg Veum, and comes very close to killing him. Veum is certain this is no accident, following so soon after the deaths of two jailed men who were convicted for their
participation in a case of child pornography and sexual assault … crimes that Veum himself once stood wrongly accused of committing.

While the guilty men were apparently killed accidentally, Varg suspects that there is something more sinister at play … and that he’s on the death list of someone still at large.

Fearing for his life, Veum begins to investigate the old case, interviewing the victims of abuse and delving deeper into the brutal crimes, with shocking results. The wolves are no longer in the dark … they are at his door. And they want vengeance.

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Happy Saturday, everyone! Today, I am so happy to kick off the blog tour for WOLVES AT THE DOOR, the new suspenseful novel by Gunnar Staalesen. A big thank you to Anne Cater and Orenda Books for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of the novel.

I discovered Gunnar Staalesen’s novels and its protagonist, private detective Varg Veum, exactly a year ago when I read Big Sister. It kept me glued to the pages and I was happy to go back to the dark and atmospheric Norwegian setting and immerse myself in this new captivating novel.

After being wrongly accused of child pornography, Varg Veum is investigating the sudden death of two men. Nobody hired him and the police doesn’t think their deaths are suspicious, so why is he so interested? Because the two men were accused of abuse and child pornography at the same time he was, and now it seems that someone is after him as well. Varg Veum questions their families and discover a past that it’s darker and more disturbing than he thought.

I am so happy Varg Veum is back. He is a fantastic and well-developed character. He feels real and likable. His calm and composed demeanour leads people to talk to him and reveal secrets they haven’t revealed before.

The author addresses the theme of child abuse and I found some of the scenes described in the novel very disturbing, especially when the abuse was inside a family. If you can’t trust your own parents, who can you trust? The way the author describes the effects of the abuse on the victims, how it affected their lives even years and years later created a few emotional moments.

WOLVES AT THE DOOR is dark, slow-paced, and suspenseful, another irresistible read from one of my favourite Nordic authors.

Follow the rest of the blog tour:

One of the fathers of the Nordic Noir genre, Gunnar Staalesen was born in Bergen, Norway in 1947. He made his debut at the age of twenty-two with Seasons of Innocence and in 1977 he published the first book in the Varg Veum series. He is the author of over twenty-three titles, which have been published in twenty-six countries and sold over five million copies. Twelve film adaptations of his Varg Veum crime novels have appeared since 2007, starring the popular Norwegian actor Trond Epsen Seim, and a further series is currently being filmed. Staalesen, who has won three Golden Pistols (including the Prize of Honour) and the Petrona Award, and been shortlisted for the CWA Dagger, lives in Bergen with his wife.

 

Publication: 6th June 2019 – Corvus Books

She thought she would never go back…

Ailsa Calder has inherited half of a house. The other half belongs to a man who disappeared without a trace twenty-seven years ago. Her father.

Leaving London behind to settle her mother’s estate, Ailsa returns to her childhood home nestled amongst the craggy peaks of the Scottish Highlands, accompanied by the half-sister she’s never taken the time to get to know.

With the past threatening to swallow her whole, she can’t escape the claustrophobic feeling that the house itself is watching her. And when Ailsa confronts the first nighttime intruder, she sees that the manor’s careless rugged beauty could cost her everything…

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The French Girl, Lexie Elliott’s gripping debut, was one of my favourite novel last year so I was really excited to get my hands on her second novel, THE MISSING YEARS, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The author takes us in a small village in the Scottish Highlands where everyone knows the protagonist, Ailsa Calder, even though she hasn’t lived in there for almost thirty years. After Ailsa’s father suddenly disappeared when she was seven years old, her mother packed their things and left. Now her mother is dead and Ailsa’s is back for the first time to claim The Manse, the family’s manor she’s inherited. For Ailsa is time to figure out what really happened to her father, but it seems that a few people don’t want Ailsa there.

Once again Lexie Elliott managed to keep me glued to the pages. There are mysteries to solve, loyalties to prove, and an element of supernatural that fits perfectly with the story. The Manse, the manor belonging to the Calder family, has a life of its own. The house is surrounded by legends and a dark and haunted atmosphere that keeps the animals away. How much of the legend is true? Is the house really trying to say something to Ailsa or is someone entering the house uninvited?

For me, THE MISSING YEARS is a must-read. I liked the characters who are so well-crafted and intriguing that until the end I couldn’t figure out who to trust. The plot is engrossing and thrilling, the tension slowly rises, and the creepy and evocative atmosphere gave me the chills. Highly recommended!!!

Many thanks to Corvus and NetGalley for an early copy of the book.

Publication: 16th April 2019 – Quercus

Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…

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If I had to describe THE FLATSHARE in three words, I would call it addictive, superb, a must-read. I adored the plot and the characters and the author’s beautiful and clear writing style made it very difficult to put it down.

THE FLATSHARE is the beautiful and thought-provoking story of Tiffy and Leon. They have never met, but they share a house and the same bed. For months they communicate through entertaining and funny notes that they leave for each other, but with him working during the night and her working during the day, they manage to never set eyes on each other and yet grow a close friendship.

Many, many people know that flat-hunting around London is quite an exhausting and frustrating experience. As someone who spent years looking for a place in London that could be both affordable and cosy, or at least clean, I definitely related to Tiffy. Personally, I would never have chosen to share a bed with a stranger, even if I would never meet him, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I loved the characters of this novel. Tiffy and Leon are adorable and likable, but completely different characters. She is full of life, quirky, easy going, and warm, while Leon is more introvert and quiet, always worried about his family, but they fit very well together. Their stories, their problems, a troubled past made these characters more realistic and down-to-earth. Tiffy and Leon are not the only characters of the story that I fell in love with. There is Ritchie, Leon’s brother, who is fun and engaging; there are Gerty and Rachel who are badass, fierce, and also a bit scary; then there is Mo, quiet and always right; and I loved when sweet Mr. Pryor and young smart Holly, two patients at the hospital where Leon works as a nurse, made their appearance. I also liked Katherine who always made me laugh.

The author craftily manages to blend fun, heart-warming, and humorous moments with more serious and dark tones that create a few emotional scenes. THE FLATSHARE is memorable and captivating and it goes at the top of my list of books I definitely recommend everyone should read!

A huge thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the book.

 

 

Publication: 16th May 2019 – HQ

The highly anticipated new novel from the international bestselling author of Sometimes I Lie, Alice Feeney’s new novel is her most twisted and nerve-wracking thriller yet.

Aimee Sinclair: the actress everyone thinks they know but can’t remember where from. But I know exactly who you are. I know what you’ve done. And I am watching you.

When Aimee comes home and discovers her husband is missing, she doesn’t seem to know what to do or how to act. The police think she’s hiding something and they’re right, she is – but perhaps not what they thought. Aimee has a secret she’s never shared, and yet, she suspects that someone knows. As she struggles to keep her career and sanity intact, her past comes back to haunt her in ways more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

I Know Who You Are will leave your heart pounding and your pulse racing. This is the most twisted thriller you’ll read all year.

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Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. I am super delighted to share my review of the twisty and engrossing new novel by Alice Feeney and I’d like to thank Lily and HQ for inviting me take part and providing me with a copy of the novel.

I am new to Alice Feeney’s novels. For some unexplained reason, I didn’t read her debut novel, Sometimes I Lie, but it’s definitely high on my TBR list, because I loved I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, a sure success that kept me completely hooked and I read in two days. I KNOW WHO YOU ARE is dark, addictive, and twisty and it addresses some disturbing themes that are not for the light-hearted.

The protagonist of this twisty novel is Aimee Sinclair, an actress in her thirties, a rising star who has found fame and recognition only in the last couple of years. Aimee doesn’t like the limelight and leads a quiet normal life, but when her husband goes missing, her secrets and her pasts risk to come to light.

The characters are not very likable, but they keep the reader glued to the page. Why they do what they do? What are they hiding? They keep you guessing and on your toes until the very end, especially Aimee. The author created a well-crafted and complex protagonist. Aimee is an excellent actress. She doesn’t just act for her work, but also in real life. She is such an unreliable character that she herself doubts her own words. Sometimes, her dark side surfaces and, together with secrets that are slowly revealed, I often questioned her innocence.

There are two different timelines that alternate and keep the tension always high. On one side, there is an adult Aimee, full of secrets and in search of the truth, and, on the other side, there is a six-year-old girl, Ciara, who narrates a childhood that it’s emotional, intense, and far from innocent. There are so many twists and, as I turned each page, I never knew what expect. If this is not enough to make you interested in this gripping story, there is a jaw-dropping and chilling ending that will take you completely by surprise.

Alice Feeney is an amazing writer who knows how to keep the reader glued to the pages and, while I wait for her next novel, I am going back to the origins with Sometimes I Lie.

Publication: 2nd May 2019 – Corvus Books

‘If you’re reading this, I’m dead.’

Rejected by her family and plagued by insomnia, Rose Shaw is on the brink . But one dark evening she collides with a man running through the streets, who quickly vanishes. The only sign he ever existed – a journal dropped at Rose’s feet.

She begins to obsessively dedicate her sleepless nights to discovering what happened to Finn Matthews, the mysterious author of the journal. Why was he convinced someone wanted to kill him? And why, in the midst of a string of murders, won’t the police investigate his disappearance?

Rose is determined to uncover the truth. But she has no idea what the truth will cost her…

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NIGHT BY NIGHT kept me completely captivated from the first to the last page. It’s both emotional and suspenseful, full of twists and surprises that made it difficult to put it down.

The protagonist is Rose Shaw. She suffers from insomnia which leaves her exhausted and tired all the time. A tragic accident leaves her a stranger in her own house, alienated by her own daughter and her husband. The collision with a man and the discovery of a disturbing journal leads Rose to uncover a corrupted police department and a town full of prejudices that put her and her family in danger.

Told from different perspectives and timelines, NIGHT BY NIGHT is a brilliant page-turner. The author takes the reader right into Rose’s grief and guilt. Her story is heart-breaking and I really felt for her as she tries to win back her family. The discovery of the diary gives her something to obsess over and, while her family thinks she is crazy and the police tries to stop her, Rose is ready to do anything to discover the truth.

Fast-paced, gripping, and well-written, the author masterfully mixes suspense and emotional psychological depth. NIGHT BY NIGHT is a story about mental health, injustice, homophobia, and prejudice, it’s a story of redemption and forgiveness that will keep you on the edge of your seat and reach for a tissue at the same time and that it establishes Jack Jordan as an amazing author.

 

 

 

Today, I am delighted to take part in a beautiful cover reveal and I’d like to thanks Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to take part. SINGLES, SET & MATCH is the new novel by Elaine Spires and it’s published on July 1st, 2019.

The fifth and final book in the Singles’ Series takes us to the Mediterranean island of Ibiza then back to the Caribbean island of Antigua, where it all began. 

After making a hard decision two years earlier Eve Mitchell has moved on with the hand that life has dealt her and she finds herself on the White Island working a tennis holiday.  While it isn’t a job she would have chosen, in her typical pragmatic way Eve gets on with it, working hard to ensure that her diverse group of singles, with their hopes, expectations character flaws and baggage, have the best time possible.  And as she binds together tennis sessions, social gatherings, meals and trips Eve hears some tragic personal news that brings her to another crossroads in her life.  Will she and the love of her life Melv finally make a life together and live happily ever after?

 

Author Bio 

Elaine Spires is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter and actress. Extensive travelling and a background in education and tourism perfected Elaine’s keen eye for the quirky characteristics of people, captivating the humorous observations she now affectionately shares with the readers of her novels. Elaine has written two books of short stories, two novellas and seven novels, four of which form the Singles Series – Singles’ Holiday, Singles and Spice, Single All The Way and Singles At Sea.  Her latest book, Singles, Set and Match is the fifth and final book in the series.  Her play Stanley Grimshaw Has Left The Building is being staged at the Bridewell Theatre, London in May 2019.  Her short film Only the Lonely, co-written with Veronique Christie and featuring Anna Calder Marshall is currently being in shown in film festivals worldwide and she is currently working on a full length feature film script. Only the Lonely won the Groucho Club Short Film Festival 2019!  Elaine recently returned to UK after living in Antigua W.I. She lives in East London.

Facebook: Elaine Spires Author

Twitter: @ElaineSWriter

Instagram: elainespiresauthor

The weekend is finally here and I am celebrating with a fantastic cover reveal (thank you so much Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to take part). THE FIRST LIE is the new novel by AJ Parks and it’s published by Orion on June 13, 2019 in eBook.

We’ve all had sleepless nights thinking about it.
You’re home alone. Someone breaks in.
In defending yourself, you end up killing the intruder.
Now you’re the one the police want.

That is the situation that criminal barrister Paul Reeve arrives home to find.
His wife Alice stands in the bedroom, clutching a bloodied letter opener in her shaking hand.

“What have you done, Alice?”
“I didn’t have a choice…”

We would all believe the person we love most.
But would we all make the same choice Paul and Alice make next…?

 

Pre-order Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Lie-addictive-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B07NLCMD44/

US – https://www.amazon.com/First-Lie-addictive-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B07NLCMD44/

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-first-lie/a-j-park/9781409187424

 

After studying literature, linguistics and Spanish at university, AJ Park trained as an English teacher and actor. He has edited magazines and taught English, Media Studies and Drama in secondary schools in England. He was also a competitive fencer for seven years.

Twitter @AJParkauthor              

Facebook KarlVadaszffy

www.karlvad.com

 

 

 

Publication: 16th May 2019 – Orion

Daisy Clayton’s killer was never caught. In over ten years, there has been no breakthrough in her murder case.

Detective Renée Ballard has faced everything the LAPD’s notorious dusk-till-dawn graveyard shift has thrown at her. But, until tonight, she’d never met Harry Bosch – an ex-homicide detective consumed by this case.

Soon, she too will become obsessed by the murder of Daisy Clayton.

Because Ballard and Bosch both know: every murder tells a story. And Daisy’s case file reads like the first chapter in an untold tragedy that is still being written – one that could end with Ballard herself, if she cannot bring the truth to light…

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Michael Connelly is famous for his series of novels featuring LAPD detective Harry Bosch. However, my first novel by this author wasn’t one featuring the famous detective, but it was The Poet (featuring reporter Jack McEvoy) which I randomly picked at a bookstore a few years ago. I found the blurb intriguing, I bought it, and then I devoured in two days. Since then, I am a big fan. I love the writing style, the pace, and the suspense. The author’s detailed knowledge of the police procedural makes it more real and gripping and he created some relatable, well-developed, and engaging characters that make me addicted to his novels. DARK SACRED NIGHT sees two of Michael Connelly’s creations come together for the first time: LAPD detective Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch, now a reserve detective at SFPD.

Ballard and Bosch are similar characters: they follow their instincts, they are willing to bend the rules, and they don’t stop until they find out the truth, even if doing so gets them in danger. They partner up to solve a cold case, the murder of fifteen-year-old Daisy Clayton nine years earlier. For Bosch the case is personal because of his close relationship with Elizabeth, the mother’s victim, while, at the same time he is working on a gang case. Ballard has her own cases to solve, but she finds herself more and more involved in Daisy’s murder.

I was surprised how well the pair Ballard-Bosch works: they quickly fall into a routine, trusting and complementing each other. I loved seeing these two characters getting together and I am already looking forward to read their next story and how their relationship evolves.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton and Orion for inviting me to join the blog tour and for providing me with a copy of the book.

 

Follow the rest of the blog tour:

Publication: 3rd May 2019 (eBook); 11th July 2019 (paperback) – Killer Reads

Some secrets are deadly…
 
When the victim of a car crash begs journalist Alex Devlin for help before disappearing without trace, Alex finds herself caught up in a mystery that won’t let her go.
 
Determined to find the missing man, she is soon investigating a conspiracy that threatens some of the most vulnerable members of society.
 
But will Alex be prepared to put her own life on the line to help those who can’t help themselves?

 

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I took advantage of a few days off work to relax and immerse myself in some great stories and one of them was GONE IN THE NIGHT, the fourth novel in the Alex Devlin series created by Mary-Jane Riley. I’d like to thank Emma Welton for inviting me to join the blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this thrilling novel.

Although I had heard of this series and the character of Alex Devlin before, I never had the pleasure to read any of the novels, but I am definetely going to catch up now because I loved the characters who I found well-developed and realistic, I liked the suspenseful atmosphere, and I was captivated by the author’s beautiful writing style and her carefully-plotted story that keeps the reader completely glued to the page.

Alex Devlin is a journalist. Following the publication of her book, she is looking for her next big story, so she finds herself mixed-up with a powerful and wealthy family who is clearly hiding something and with a nurse looking for her missing brother. While Alex chases clues, she interviews people, and she tries not to get herself killed, we also get a glimpse into her personal life, with a son away at college who she barely sees and a sister with a troubled past.

Mary-Jane Riley writes in a way that makes the readers feel like they are inside the story. I could imagine most of the scenes and the settings she describes in detail and I could feel the tension rise page after page as Alex digs deeper and deeper into the case of the disappearance of homeless people. The dark atmosphere, the different perspectives, a thought-provoking and gripping plot, likable characters, and a dramatic and twisty ending are the elements that make GONE IN THE NIGHT an absolute page-turner!

Mary-Jane wrote her first story on her newly acquired blue Petite typewriter. She was eight. It was about a gang of children who had adventures on mysterious islands, but she soon realised Enid Blyton had cornered that particular market. So she wrote about the Wild West instead. When she grew up she had to earn a living, and became a BBC radio talk show presenter and journalist. She has covered many life-affirming stories, but also some of the darkest events of the past two decades. Mary-Jane has three grown-up children and lives in Suffolk with her husband and two golden retrievers.

GONE IN THE NIGHT is the fourth book in the crime thriller series set in East Anglia and featuring investigative journalist, Alex Devlin.

Social Media:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/maryjanerileyauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrsmjriley @mrsmjriley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryjanerileyauthor/ @maryjanerileyauthor

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gone-Night-exciting-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B07KX8RXN2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=gone+in+the+night&qid=1556096683&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/gone-in-the-night/mary-jane-riley/9780008340261

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Gone-in-the-Night-Mary-Jane-Riley/9780008340261

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/gone-in-the-night-alex-devlin

Hive: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Mary-Jane-Riley/Gone-in-the-Night/23451944

Google Books: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Gone_in_the_Night_Alex_Devlin.html?id=VwN8DwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y