BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: Macbeth by Jo Nesbo

I'm very excited to be on the blog tour today for Macbeth by Jo Nesbo plus I have a copy to giveaway too! Macbeth is being published by Harvill Secker and is part of the Hogarth Project which sees Shakespeare's works retold by acclaimed and bestselling novelists of today, so far the project has published novels including The Tempest by Margaret Attwood, Tracy Chevalier's retelling of Othello and The Winter's Tale rewritten by Jeanette Winterson. I think Jo Nesbo is the perfect fit for Macbeth, he is one of the world's best crime writers, his writing is gritty and realistic. His approach to Macbeth is modern and relevant:

He's the best cop they've got.
When a drug bust turns into a bloodbath it's up to Inspector Macbeth and his team to clean up the mess.
He's also an ex-drug addict with a troubled past.
He's rewarded for his success. Power. Money. Respect. They're all within reach.
But a man like him won't get to the top...
Plagued by hallucinations and paranoia, Macbeth starts to unravel. He's convinced he won't get what is rightfully his.
...unless he kills for it

Publisher: Harvill Secker

Pages: 611

I have really enjoyed Jo Nesbo's books in the past and I was intrigued to see how he would adapt Macbeth for a modern audience. Making Macbeth a troubled police Inspector was a fantastic idea as it allows Nesbo to include so much within the character. I think that Nesbo perfectly captured the ruthless and desperate nature of Macbeth's character, there is an edge of madness to him along with a dogged determination to get what he wants. I always found Macbeth to have quite a claustrophobic atmosphere and Nesbo recreates this in the four districts he sets the book in; everyone has an agenda and is watching what others are doing, it is quite an oppressive state to live in.
You could easily read this book without having read Macbeth. I found myself trying to interpret it too much at first, trying to match characters and scenes but once I had abandoned that I actually found it more enjoyable so don't be put off, you do not need to have read the original to appreciate this one.

Harvill Secker have kindly said that I can offer a UK reader the chance to win a copy of the book, simply leave a comment below and I will pick a random winner, this competition is open until midnight on 29th September.

Many thanks to Mia at Vintage for inviting me to take part in the blog tour, do check out the other stops too! Macbeth by Jo Nesbo is available to buy now from Amazon, click here to sign up to the official monthly Jo Nesbo emails with exclusive content, news and competitions!

BOOK REVIEW: The Beautiful Dead by Belinda Bauer

There's no safety in numbers...
Eve Singer needs death.With her career as a TV crime reporter flagging, she'll do anything to satisfy her ghoulish audience.
The killer needs death too. He even advertises his macabre public performances where he hopes to show the whole world the beauty of dying.
When he contacts Eve, she welcomes the chance to be the first with the news from every gory scene until she realises that the killer has two obsessions.
One is public murder.
And the other is her...

Publisher: Bantam Press

Belinda Bauer brings something extra to the crime genre and her latest book The Beautiful Dead shows off her talent in all its glory.
Eve Singer is our female protagonist; she is a hard hitting crime reporter but with new talent snapping at her heels, she knows her job hangs in the balance. When a murderer contacts her and gives her the details of his next crime so she can be there live, she jumps at the chance as it is the exclusive she needs. However, knowing that the killer may not have carried out such an act if she had not gone along makes Eve feel incredibly guilty; she has almost become part of the crime. But it is too late now, she has made that fateful connection and it soon becomes clear that the killer is not going to lose interest in Eve anytime soon.
The Beautiful Dead is a very clever and well-thought out book, it was a bit more action packed than her previous books yet it still gives you a lot to think about. Bauer delves quit
e deep into her character's emotions; especially Eve and the murderer which makes for interesting and often uncomfortable reading. It is this aspect of the book that sets Belinda Bauer apart from other writers in this genre. It feels like she really lays her characters bare which in turn almost makes them seem quite vulnerable.
Eve is an excellent creation, she has so much going on in her life before she makes contact with the killer, you begin to wonder just how much more she can take as she becomes tangled up in his web.
I would highly recommend this book and Belinda Bauer's others too. She avoids the cliches that often come with books in this field and instead provides you with an original and thought-provoking story.

Many thanks to Dead Good Books for sending me a copy!