Author: Sarah Hardy

Book Description:

Who really killed Maisie Earnshaw?

Within the walls of the high-security psychiatric facility, Crowmont Hospital, reside many violent offenders. To nurse Leah Smith, no matter what, all offenders are patients first and foremost. When Leah is appointed as nurse to Isabel Fielding, she is determined to remain professional despite the shocking crime Isabel allegedly committed in her past.

Seven years ago, six-year-old Maisie Earnshaw was found face down in a duck pond, her body mutilated. Isabel–at age fourteen, found covered in Maisie’s blood–was convicted of murder.

As Leah spends time with Isabel, she comes to know her as a young woman with a sweet, gentle nature, someone she could never see as a murderer. Leah begins to suspect members of the Fielding family of framing Isabel as a young girl, and she’s not the only one. True crime blogger James Gorden thinks Isabel is innocent too.

But is Leah letting her own dark past taint her judgement as she grows closer to her patient? Or has a young woman been unjustly robbed of her childhood?

My Thoughts:

After hearing so many great things about this author from fellow readers, I knew I had to take the plunge and give her books a go. What a book to start off with as well!

The whole setting for this story was just genius. Having lived in Rotherham for a number of years, I knew the area as well as surrounding one quite well so loved that it was set somewhere I knew personally. Not that you will really recognise the cottage that Leah and her brother find themselves living in or the hospital that Leah works in. Well I didn’t anyway. It just added an eeriness to the story though which I loved.

The story really ticks so many boxes, a child killer, a high security hospital and a main character who is also fighting her own demons. There was so much to intrigue the reader that from picking the book up I didn’t want to put it down and ended up reading it in two sittings.

One For Sorrow is such a fabulously dark and twisted read. I knew from the opening pages it was going to be good but by heck I didn’t for see the twists and turns as they happened. It’s one of those stories that you will be constantly second guessing and jumping at conclusions only to be totally wrong. A great introduction to a new author for me and can’t wait to read more.

One For Sorrow is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Book Description:

There’s blossom in the trees and daffodils as far as the eye can see. Maddie is looking forward to a fresh start in the countryside, but there’s just one little problem…

Following a scandal at her high-flying PR agency, twenty-six-year-old Maddie flees London to help promote what she thinks is going to be a luxurious holiday retreat in the countryside. Everything is riding on her making a success of this new job…

Yet when she arrives, Maddie is horrified to find a rundown old farm in a terrible state. The brooding and secretive owner, Seth, spent all his money on leasing the land when he fell in love with the beautiful, dishevelled farm cottages and the very romantic story behind them.

When Maddie discovers an old oil painting by the original owner’s wife, she unlocks the secret of the farm’s history and quickly realises she must start getting her hands dirty if this very special place is going to have any chance of survival. As she and Seth begin working together, the stunning view from the top of the hill is not the only thing that’s leaving her breathless…

After weeks of hard work the dream looks like it might become a reality, until a secret from Maddie’s past threatens to snatch it all away again. Can Maddie find a way to save the business and herself? Will she finally find a place to keep her heart within the crumbling walls of the little cottage on the hill?

Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Debbie Johnson who are looking to escape to the countryside and fall in love watching the seasons change.

My Thoughts:

The Little Cottage On The Hill is the first book in The Little Cottage Series. What a great start to a series as well. If like me you love seeing a building transformation then you will love this book. Don’t get me wrong the actual physical work on the farm is kept quite low key and focuses on the characters so we really get to know them better, but the parts to do with giving the barn and the cottages a make over had so many visions running through my head. I loved both Maddie’s and Seth’s ideas.

There is only a small cast of characters in the story and I enjoyed getting to know each one better. They are all really great, well apart from Agatha but the least said about her the better, even the cat I was totally taken with by the end of the story!

Whilst there is a hint of romance throughout the story, for me it was more about friendships and bonds as well as setting up what looks to be a fabulous series. There is so much potential for this series and I am now desperate to read the next book in the series.

The Little Cottage On The Hill is a fabulous start to a captivating series. The author totally drew me in and was enchanted by the wonderful setting and lovely characters. I totally lost myself into the story and didn’t want to come out of it. Such a great read.

The Little Cottage On The Hill is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Book Description:

A CHRISTMAS RETURN is the 15th novella in the festive series by Anne Perry, the queen of Victorian crime.

As the festive season approaches, Charlotte Pitt’s grandmamma, Mariah Ellison, is facing Christmas alone. When she receives an unexpected gift, memories are sparked of a Christmas in Haslemere long ago, when her beloved friend Cullen Wesley died and a local villager was brutally murdered, with no killer brought to justice.

The unsolved case has resurfaced and Cullen’s grandson, Peter, begs for Mariah’s help to solve the crime that led to his grandfather’s death. Mariah can’t resist a friend in need and she returns to Haslemere to investigate the murder and heal old wounds. But evil still lurks in the picturesque village and she’ll need all her wits about her to see that justice is done.

A Christmas Return is the enthralling new festive tale from the pen of Anne Perry, the master of Victorian crime.

My Thoughts:

Even though this is the fifteenth novella in the festive series, having not read any other books in the series, it definitely reads as a stand alone. Not only is it my first book I’ve read in the series but also the first book I’ve read by the author.

This was a relatively quick and quaint read. Even though only a novella, I fast became a fan of Mariah’s character. She reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Quite stern yet lovable.

I loved the era the story is set in as well as the investigation. It’s not a dark crime read by any means but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. If you are looking for a more lighter crime fiction read set at a festive time of the year, then this is a perfect little read.

A Christmas Return is nice little read that was easy to get into and had me captivated with the wonderful era it’s set in. I think if you love you Agatha Christie style mysteries then this is an author whose books you should definitely give a go.

My thanks to Headline for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

A Christmas Return is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Book Description:

FROM THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF HOLY ISLAND AND SEVEN BRIDGES

He thought he was invincible, but he was wrong…

When an old man is found dead inside the ancient hermitage at Warkworth Castle, Northumbria CID are called in to investigate. With no apparent motive, it’s their job to unravel why he was murdered – and this time they’re forced to do it without their star detective…

DCI Ryan is thousands of miles away. He’s tracked a killer across Europe and has sworn not to return until he has his man in custody. Nathan Armstrong is a dangerous psychopath but there’s just one problem – he’s also an international celebrity; a world-famous thriller writer with money and connections. 

Ryan is a stranger in a foreign land, but he knows one thing – he’ll never give up. 

Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular landscapes of Northumberland and Tuscany. 

My Thoughts:

The majority of this story is set over in Italy. Oh my, how the author brings the area vividly to life. Yes this may be a dark and chilling read in parts but boy did I fall in love with the place. The descriptions were just to wonderful not to.

I have to say for me the star of this book is Phillips. He brings some light relief to the story and many a times I found myself grinning at his local dialogue. Believe me, by the end of the book, you can’t help ever so slightly falling a little bit in love with him yourself. He really is such a sweetheart.

It’s probably best to have read previous books in the story to get the most from this book as there is a bit of background you would be better of knowing to do with Ryan and Anna. It was great to catch up with them and see where the author was going to take us all next.

The Hermitage was a gripping page turner of a read that I couldn’t help but devour pretty much in one go. It was just to fabulous not to. The author is certainly one who is well known for bringing the settings in her books to life and you can’t help but get wrapped up with the scenery as well as all the goings on in the case. The pace starts off steady and picks up throughout as we get nearer to the end and I enjoyed every minute of it. A highly recommended read.

My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

The Hermitage is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).