The Velvet Hammer: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.’s Capital Murder Cases and Memoir by Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. and Amy Mitchell
Publication Day: September 10th
Genre: True Crime Memoir
BACK OF THE BOOK
After retiring from 25 years on the bench, former Chief Judge, Belvin Perry, Jr., reveals a rare and disturbingly vivid first-hand perspective of the most gruesome death penalty cases in which he played a key role, including the infamous Casey Marie Anthony, who was dubbed “America’s Most Hated Mom” after her shocking acquittal for the murder of her 2 year old daughter.
Kate Alexa Anderson is a fifteen-year-old girl who lives in Chardenia, a country that is on a magical planet called Candytopia. Although she is a princess living in great luxury, Kate begins to feel uncomfortable with her life. She wants to do more than travel and host parties. One day she meets an empress named Amanda, who reveals to Kate the great danger that awaits Candytopia, a danger unknown by anyone else. In The Magical World of Candytopia, Kate not only begins her adventure to save her planet but discovers unknown places and secrets that change her life forever.
This is the follow-up story to Zinc about three Jewish siblings John, George and Eva who continue to play different roles to help the war effort in WW2.
George trains in Scotland for his SOE mission to Poland to help the fighters in the Secret Army.
After his work at Bletchley Park, John is now stationed in Cairo in Egypt working on plans to deceive Field Marshall Rommel about the location of the impending battle, while sister Eva in Hungary is finding life for anyone Jewish getting harder and harder as the Nazis harden their grip over the country. Will the siblings ever manage to get together? They share so many memories, but war keeps them apart.Based on the extraordinary real-life experiences of Sue Klauber’s father (Coding at Bletchley Park), uncle (SOE in Europe) and aunt (Resistance), she wrote Zinc and now Cobalt to illustrate the courage of her Jewish family.
The Witch, The Warlock, and the Siren of the Damned (Book 3, The Witch of White Lady Hollow series) by C. David Belt
Cover Reveal: Sept 5th
Genre: 1970s Contemporary/ Mormon/ Christian Fantasy/ Christian Fiction
Publisher: Inksmith Publishing
BACK OF THE BOOK
An ancient, legendary power has risen and with it, a terrible plan to destroy a city with nuclear fire.
Tabitha and Josh Kilmore—the witch and her warlock—are raising three small children nearly ten years after the Devourer of Souls killed his last victim. Together, they can perform marvels.
But, Josh, now a B-52 pilot with the United States Armed Forces, has been abducted and Tabitha is left wondering where he’s been taken and why. Without Tabitha and access to her Power, Josh’s life is in mortal danger. Thrust unwillingly into the middle of a plot that will claim thousands of lives, Josh finds himself in the crosshairs of an ancient, legendary sorceress and her army of the Damned.
Tabitha must use every available resource and tap into her talents to rescue her husband and bring him home before the world falls into chaos.
The Shadows of Erathal (The Legends of Evorath #1) by Joseph P Macolino
Cover Reveal 5th Sept
Genre: YA/Fantasy
BACK OF THE BOOK
An ancient treasure reemerges. Whispers of evil echo through the shadows. As a new power rises, only one thing is certain: Evorath will never be the same.
Jaldor lives a peaceful life. Tending his farm, caring for his family, and feeding his community. But his entire world is turned upside down when a malevolent force arrives to threaten his family. In the moment when all seems lost, unexpected heroes arrive and renew his hope for the future.
After years of adventuring as a bounty hunter and mercenary, the shapeshifter Zelag returns to his family. But the unsettling news he brings threatens to shake the very core of their peaceful community. He and the other heroes must work quickly if they hope to quell the shadows of Erathal.
As the heroes of Erathal shine light on the shadowy underbelly, they discover terrifying alliances that threaten to plunge the continent into war. And with the imminent invasion of a dark elf army, it’s clear that not everyone will make it through the night.
Faced with overwhelming odds, can these motley heroes survive another day?
The Shadows of Erathal is the thrilling first book in The Legends of Evorath epic fantasy series. If you enjoy expansive world-building, mind-bending magic, and believe family is deeper than blood, you’ll fall in love with Joseph P Macolino’s fast-paced adventure.
Cameron Stone imagined he heard the airman’s words again and, as he did, he spoke under his breath. “I am going to find you.”
It is March 15th 1944 and Second Lieutenant George Hailey, an outstanding African American pilot, is presumed dead, along with the rest of his crew, when his Catalina seaplane disappears on its return to Lough Erne in Northern Ireland.
80 years later, a young history professor, Cameron Stone, is examining a WW2 photograph of George Hailey when the airman and his dog come alive. “Find me!” the pilot cries.
Teaming up with the missing man’s granddaughter, Maya Hailey, Stone travels to Northern Ireland only to uncover a terrifying and sinister conspiracy that puts both their lives in grave danger.
Dead Man Talking is the first in a series of supernatural thrillers involving Maya Hailey (a former pastor) and Cameron Stone (a history professor) – an unlikely duo whose synergy is as powerful as their growing chemistry.
A tale of blackmail, kidnap and terrible secrets. Of children being sent abroad, and of women trying to do the right thing at a time when they were second class citizens.
How far will Jane Knight and Eliza Frew go to protect the ones they love … and save themselves?
Child rescue and migration are the backdrops to this historical drama that packs a punch.
An intelligent and emotionally rich story which is truly engaging.
Highly commended in the Pitlochry Quaich Historical Novel competition.
AUTHOR BIO
Elaine Whiteford is a Scottish writer of fiction and non-fiction. She is passionate about local history and women’s social history in late Victorian and Edwardian times. The Rescue Sisters is the first of her historical novels to be published. She has had extracts of two novels published in Gold Dust magazine and short fiction published by Stryvling Press. In non-fiction Elaine is the author of The Story of Stirling Golf Club, a contributor to Wild & Temperate Seas and has had photo articles about scuba diving and marine life published in a wide range of magazines.
When Lara Rose’s surging Hollywood career begins to stall, her manager arranges a tour to entertain the troops during the Thanksgiving holiday. By chance of fate, unassuming Captain Edward Madin is named as her escort. As her visit ends, Lara believes she is growing fond of the young captain and, for both a publicity stunt and her own interest, she begins sending him letters while he is on assignment in the Middle East.
Upon his return their relationship blossoms into romance, and Edward begins to struggle with Lara’s celebrity status. Will a secret uncovered by the tabloids and paparazzi drive these two apart, or can love truly conquer all?
A spine-tingling suspense thriller that asks: How many bad men can one woman have in her life?
England, 1979. After a childhood trauma, Rebecca struggles to build healthy relationships. Her on-again-off-again partner is a married police officer trying to catch the Yorkshire Ripper, who has just claimed his tenth victim.
Then Rebecca meets Larry, a charming American with a troubled past.
And of course there’s Mervyn, the creepy journalist she ended a brief relationship with, who will do anything to keep her in his life . . .
With three very different men craving her attention, and a serial killer on the loose, Rebecca soon finds herself in a twisted game of cat and mouse. Can any of these men be trusted? And could one of them in fact be a cold-blooded killer?
REVIEW:
The Company She Keeps is a psychological thriller by James Woolf
The story follows Rebecca, a successful business woman over a period of about a year in her life. It is set during the investigation of The Yorkshire Ripper and elements of this are discussed throughout the story which helps give the reader consideration to the state of mind of many women during this time and how it shapes Rebeccas character throughout the story. The main arc of the story is her relationships with three different men, a past relationship, a man who would like a relationship and the one Rebecca is developing.
Each of the men come across negatively in different ways having Rebecca, and the reader, question their intentions and what the outcome might be ultimately leading to and impactful ending.
To begin with I found the story quite slow in pace but came to realise that the author has done this in a way that helps build intensity for what goes on to happen in the second have of the story. At each stage the reader questions the motivations of the men in Rebeccas life and which of them may mean her harm. There are twists and realisations along the way with pay off to the overall story coming from the ground work established in the earlier chapters. Overall I would personally call this a mystery for the most part however as things take a darker turn you get the full thriller promised and a perfect thriller ending. I would recommend for mystery readers and thriller readers who enjoy great character development that fleshes out the story allowing for the characters to feel very real.
Nova Scotia, 1871: Annetta Stewart boards a ship bound for the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) in the South Pacific, unaware she is travelling to a life of loss and a trial of her own beliefs.
Leaving everything and everyone she has ever known, Annetta is young, has her new husband by her side, and is going with love in her heart. But will it be enough?
Soon, the dangers become real. Slavers in the islands bring consequences that shake the couple to their core. Annetta must decide if she is strong enough to stay. Will the light or dark win out in the hard truths she must face about her purpose in life?
Based on actual events, The Missionary’s Wife is a moving and powerful novel about sacrifice, love, acceptance, partnership, and the courage to live life despite the challenges we face.
Claire McGregor paints the beauty of the islands as a character in itself, and asks, How far would you go for what you believe in?
Dunfermline Reads 