BOOK REVIEW: The Vanished Bride by Bella Ellis

Yorkshire 1845

A young woman has gone missing from her home, Chester Grange, leaving no trace, save a large pool of blood in her bedroom and a slew of dark rumours about her marriage. A few miles away, the daughters of a humble parson, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte are horrified, yet intrigued.

Desperate to find out more, the sisters visit Chester Grange where they notice several unsettling details about the crime scene not least the absence of an investigation. Together the young women realise that their boundless imaginations could help solve the mystery- and that if they don’t attempt to find out what happened to Elizabeth Chester, no one else will. 

The path to the truth is not an easy one, especially in a society which believes a woman’s place to be in the home, not wandering the countryside looking for clues. But nothing will stop the sisters from discovering what happened to the vanished bride, even if they find their own lives are in great peril…

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Bella Ellis is the pseudonym for the fantastic Rowan Coleman. I love this author’s writing and I love the Bronte sisters so I knew I had to read this book. 

The Vanished Bride mixes the facts that we know about Emily, Charlotte and Anne Bronte with a little bit of artistic licence as Bella Ellis imagines the three sisters acting as amateur detectives. When they hear about Elizabeth Chester going missing from Chester Grange, they are intrigued. They know the governess there so they are able to visit and see the situation for themselves, Elizabeth Chester’s room was discovered covered in blood but there was no sign of the mistress herself. Her husband has already lost one wife in suspicious circumstances, is it just a tragic coincidence or is he involved?  

The idea of the Bronte sisters as detectives is just fantastic and makes perfect sense and therefore is entirely believable; they would be naturally inquisitive and constantly on the lookout for ideas for stories and what could be more perfect than a murder scene with no body? I was impressed with the ways in which Bella Ellis showed how the sisters were constrained by their gender; as we know they wrote under male pseudonyms and in the story they have to pretend that they are working for respectable, professional men in order to go about their investigation. This book really made me consider the amount of women who must have had so much to offer being unable to do so purely because of their gender. It was such an accomplishment of the Brontes to follow their determination and go ahead and produce and publish their work, they could easily have bowed down to society’s conventions. 

Ellis’ love of the Bronte sisters shines through and I was so impressed with the way in which she showed the individual characters of Emily, Anne and Charlotte. They can often be lumped together as though they had just one person but Ellis highlights their varied personality traits, views and interests and it is fascinating. 

I believe that The Vanished Bride is the first in a series of Bronte Mystery books that Bella Ellis intends to write, I cannot wait to see what she has the sisters involved in next! 

BOOK REVIEW: Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner

The remarkable life of Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret who was also a Maid of Honour at the Queen’s Coronation – and is a character in The Crown this autumn. Anne Glenconner reveals the real events behind The Crown as well as her own life of drama, tragedy and courage, with the wonderful wit and extraordinary resilience which define her.
Anne Glenconner has been close to the Royal Family since childhood. Eldest child of the 5th Earl of Leicester, she was, as a daughter, described as ‘the greatest disappointment’ by her family as she was unable to inherit. Her childhood home Holkham Hall is one of the grandest estates in England. Bordering Sandringham the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were frequent playmates.
From Maid of Honour at the Queen’s Coronation to Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret, Lady Glenconner is a unique witness to royal history, as well as an extraordinary survivor of a generation of aristocratic women trapped without inheritance and burdened with social expectations.
She married the charismatic but highly volatile Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner, who became the owner of Mustique. Together they turned the island into a paradise for the rich and famous, including Mick Jagger and David Bowie, and it became a favourite retreat for Princess Margaret.
But beneath the glitz and glamour there has also lurked tragedy. On Lord Glenconner’s death in 2010 he left his fortune to a former employee. And of their five children, two grown-up sons died, while a third son had to be nursed back from a coma by Anne, after having suffered a near fatal accident.
Anne Glenconner writes with extraordinary wit, generosity and courage and she exposes what life was like in her gilded cage, revealing the role of her great friendship with Princess Margaret, and the freedom she can now finally enjoy in later life. 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton 

Pages: 336

I simply loved this book! I saw it on the author Harriet Evans’ page and I was intrigued, I’m go glad I bought a copy as it was a complete delight. I am not a huge fan of the royal family so don’t think you have to be in order to enjoy this memoir. Anne Glenconner has led such an interesting and varied life, it is impossible not to be entertained by her writing. She offers a glimpse into a very different world and it was not quite what I expected. She very much shows the role and limitations of aristocratic women at her time, she always felt a huge disappointment to her family as she was not a boy and therefore would be not be able to inherit Holkham Hall, the family estate meaning it would pass to a different line of the family. Laws have now changed but these circumstances were very common. Glenconner also offers an insight into the ways in which wealthy families with vast estates were affected by the war and the change of life it brought about. 

Her connection to the Queen and Princess Margaret is fascinating and I particularly enjoyed the chapter where she took part in the Queen’s coronation. It was so interesting to learn about the planning and detail that goes into such a historic event plus I felt that she really gave you a good sense of just how she had felt on the day, taking part in such a momentous occasion at such a young age. 

Anne Glenconner does not hold back, she is searingly honest about the difficult relationship she had with her husband, the rather eccentric Colin Tennant. She details how Colin bought the island of Mustique and spent a vast part of his life developing it into the revered place that it is today. She talks candidly about the tragedies endured by her family, she lost two sons and had to nurse one back from a coma. Throughout the book, she is honest about having Nannies and leaving the children for long periods of time in order to carry out royal duties and so on but in those times that was the done thing within the aristocracy. Despite this, the deep love and pride she has in her children shines through and you can see that she revels in the freedom to spend more time with them in this part of her life. 

I think Anne Glenconner does a superb job of showing how difficult it was for Princess Margaret being the sister of the Queen and although it afforded her a life of great wealth and privilege it also had many limitations and negatives. Anne’s relationship with Princess Margaret was extremely close and it was so lovely to hear of the thoughtful things that the Princess did for her friend and her family, it was not a one-way friendship as some may assume. 

I cannot recommend this book enough, I flew through it and was so sad to reach the final chapter. Anne Glenconner writes with warmth, wit and honesty, it is one of the best memoirs I have ever read.

BOOK REVIEW: A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

The Centre for women's reproductive health offers a last chance of hope- but nobody ends up their by choice.
Its very existence is controversial, and to the demonstrators who barricade the building everyday, the service it offers is no different from legalised murder.
Now life and death decisions are being made horrifyingly real: a lone protester with a gun has taken the staff, patients and visitors hostage.
Starting at the tensest moment in the negotiations for their release, A Spark of Light unravels backwards, revealing hour by hour what brought each of the people- the gunman, the negotiator, the doctors, nurses and women who have come to them for treatment- to this point.
And certainties unwind as truths and secrets are peeled away, revealing the complexity of balancing the right to life with the right to choose. 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 355

I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult's books and her last book, Small Great Things totally blew me away. However, I have very mixed feelings about her latest book, A Spark of Light. I heard the author talking about it on Radio 4 and the idea sounded fantastic but I came away feeling a little disappointed once I had reached the end.
The premise is that a group of people have been taken hostage at a Women's Health Centre by a gun man. In America, women's health centres deal with female reproductive health and they also carry out abortions. This is obviously a highly contentious issue and I was impressed by how far Picoult went in tackling it. She looks at many different angles and viewpoints, religion, gender, age, sexuality, ethics and morality. I do feel that she engaged in the subject well but the book fell down for me by being overly complicated. The story begins with the final negotiations and works its way back, I didn't have a problem with this but the problem was the number of characters involved. I was fully focused when reading but there were so many times when I was too confused to enjoy the story properly. Each character has their own back history which is a fantastic way of examining different view points. But the sheer amount of characters and jumping back and forth took away the impact of the actual story for me which was a shame.
I still felt quite invested in these characters so I was disappointed when there was a lot of loose ends, I didn't even want happy endings for them all but I was looking for some form of conclusion.
For me, A Spark of Light has a fantastic and important core element in the issue it is tackling but I did not feel that it was executed effectively.

BOOK REVIEW WITH THE BOOK PEOPLE: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

When a newborn baby dies after a routine hospital procedure, there is no doubt about who will be held responsible: the nurse who had been banned from looking after him by his father.
What the nurse, her lawyer and the father of the child cannot know is how the death will irrevocably change all of their lives, in ways both expected and not.
Small Great Things is about prejudice and power; it is about which divides and unites us.
It is about opening your eyes.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 503

The Book People got in touch to ask if I would like to pick a book from their 'hand-picked favourites' range to review on my blog. To be honest, when I think of The Book People I always think of childrens books or box sets of books etc. So I was pleasantly surprised to look on their website and see that they have a huge selection of fiction novels to choose from. Small Great Things was already on my book wish list so I chose that; they sent me a beautiful hardback edition and I can honestly say that it is one of the best books I have ever read.
My experience of Jodi Picoult is limited to her earlier books such as My Sister's Keeper and Vanishing Acts which I really enjoyed. Small Great Things, published in 2016 garnered huge attention; it was a New York Times bestseller and was chosen as a Richard and Judy Book Club choice in 2017.
We follow the story of Ruth Walker who is accused of killing a newborn baby. Davis Bauer died after a routine procedure, his father Turk Bauer had requested that Ruth did not not touch his son, simply because Ruth is black. Turk now holds Ruth responsible for his son's death. Her world is turned upside down, the racism and prejudice she has experienced her whole life comes together in this charge against her. Kennedy McQaurrie is Ruth's defence attorney, despite Ruth's protestations, Kennedy does not want this case to be about racism, she wants to ensure that Ruth walks free and justice is served. Ruth, Turk and Kennedy are used by Picoult as separate narrators which is a fantastic technique as it gives the reader an insight into their feelings, doubts and emotions.
Jodi Picoult is very brave to tackle such a huge subject but she does it so well. She must have done so much research in order to bring everything together. I myself am of mixed race and I could identify with points that Picoult made, sometimes the things we don't question are more important than the ones we do.
There's a lot to take in when reading this book but the process of the trial keeps it all on track and centres the reader to the here and now.
Small Great Things is a fantastic read, I really cannot recommend it enough. Jodi Picoult delivers a powerful story with complex characters and a highly thought-provoking plot.

Many thanks to The Book People for sending me a copy of the book to review, have a click on the link in my review to see the fabulous books they have! 

BOOK REVIEW: The Rest of Me by Katie Marsh

They say ‘write what you know’ and that is exactly what Katie Marsh has done with her new novel. The Rest of Me.
It’s the story of Alex, a woman who organises the lives of her ailing husband Sam and their two daughters, lurching from to-do lists to wall planners without ever finding time to be kind to herself. She works full-time and is always under pressure, dashing from work to pick-ups to home without ever having time to breathe.
Alex is also a “self-bully”. She constantly sets herself new targets and berates herself when she doesn’t meet them. She focuses on what’s going wrong, never giving herself credit for anything that has gone well. Her inner voice is permanently set to critical.
When Alex gives her husband Sam a kidney to save his life she opens herself up to complications she didn’t foresee, which strains her marriage and her relationship with her daughters- eventually forcing her to stop running and to face up to a past she has buried for years.
The Rest of Me is about what happens when Alex confronts the mistakes and secrets that shaped her, and learns to be kinder to herself.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 392

The Rest of Me is Katie Marsh’s fourth novel but the first of hers that I have read. I found it to be a very up-lifting read, Katie Marsh is warm and witty and not afraid to explore emotive subjects.

Alex is a driven and focused career woman; she’s had to be recently as her husband Sam has been very ill so she has had to support the whole family physically and financially. The book begins with Alex making a huge sacrifice, in order to save Sam, she donates her own kidney. In her head, getting Sam better will solve everything. But after the operation, Alex suffers some complications and everything is under strain again, her marriage, family and career. Alex’s troubles lead her to confront her past and most importantly to realise just how critical she is of herself. She is her own worst enemy, setting herself unrealistic targets and then ultimately punishing herself when she fails to meet them. If Alex wants a better future for her and Sam and their daughters Jenna and Izzy then she must learn to be kinder to herself.

I found the relationship between Alex and her daughters particularly interesting. I could identify with the complex relationship between a mother and daughter and how sometimes when you are trying to help your child, you inadvertently push them away.

The front of this proof copy suggested that fans of Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse would enjoy this and I agree. The story is emotive and touching without being overly sentimental. I think this will be a very popular summer read.

Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a copy of the book to review.

BOOK REVIEW: The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin

The year is 1831.
Down the murky alleyways of London, acts of unspeakable wickedness are taking place and no one is willing to speak out on behalf of the city’s vulnerable poor as they disappear from the streets.
Out of these shadows comes Hester White, a bright young woman who is desperate to escape the slums by any means possible.
When Hester is thrust into the world of the aristocratic Brock family, she leaps at the chance to improve her station in life under the tutelage of the friendly intelligent and mysterious Rebekah Brock. But whispers from her past slowly begin to poison her new life and both she and Rebekah are lured into the most sinister of investigations.
Hester and Rebekah find themselves crossing every boundary they’ve ever known in pursuit of truth, redemption and passion. But their trust in each other will be tested as a web of deceit begins to unspool, dragging them into the blackest heart of a city where something more depraved  than either of them could ever imagine is lurking…

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 352

I have to hold my hands up to the fact that the reason I bought this book was the beautiful cover design! I’m pleased to report that I was also impressed with its contents.

The Wicked Cometh is set in 1831 and follows Hester White; she is an orphan in desperate circumstances who seizes on an opportunity to escape the slums of London. Hester finds herself in the Brock family household where she is under the charge of Rebekah. Her new mistress is rather mysterious and Hester is desperate to impress her and secure a better future. However, Hester’s past situation is about to catch up with her and she finds herself and Rebekah in a very dark and dangerous tangled web.

The Wicked Cometh has a very Charles Dickens feel to it. Laura Carlin goes out of her way to present the squalor and danger in London’s slums at the time. Some of the descriptions are beautiful and I enjoyed her use of language and the vivid images it conjured up.

As a protagonist, Hester is very likeable, and I wanted her to do well as her past has been filled with much tragedy and misfortune. Her relationship with Rebekah dominates the book and it wasn’t what I expected. Although the two women have had very different life experiences, they have a powerful connection and bond. Both are willing to put themselves in danger for each other and do so on several occasions.

I did feel that the book had a small lull in the middle in terms of pace but I was so glad that I stuck with it as the author has several surprises up her sleeve in the final part of the book.

The Wicked Cometh is a very interesting read. If you are a fan of historical fictions and like your books with a bit of a darker edge then I would highly recommend this one.

BOOK REVIEW: He Said, She Said by Erin Kelly

He said it was consensual. The woman said nothing.
But Laura saw it...
...didn't she?
In the hushed aftermath of a total eclipse, Laura witnesses a brutal attack.
She and her boyfriend Kit call the police, and in that moment, it is not only the victim's life that is changed forever.
Fifteen years on, Laura and Kit live in fear. And while Laura knows she was not right to speak out, the events that follow have taught her that you can never see the whole picture: something- and someone- is always in the dark...

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 404

I first heard about this book on the Radio 2 Book Club and it sounded a little different to the usual thriller so I promptly bought a copy. The theme of solar eclipses runs throughout the book, Laura and Kit witness a brutal attack just after an eclipse  but it is more than that. The solar eclipse is used as a metaphor in the book for things being hidden, either secrets or lies or for some, personality traits or weaknesses. I thought this was very clever, and it did add something extra to the book which definitely lifted it from being a generic thriller.
Laura and Kit's world has been destroyed by the event they witnessed in Cornwall. It becomes clear very quickly that neither of them are reliable narrators, for Laura especially, the truth is no longer clear in her own mind.
The book flits back and forth between the act in 2000 and the present day in 2015 which shows them still living in fear. The author gradually builds a picture of the years in-between and we begin to learn why they are so scared.
The book begins at a great pace. I found a slight lull  about two thirds of the way through but I was so glad that I persevered as the last third of the book is off the scale. There were so many twists and turns; the revelations made it all worth it.
He Said, She Said is a thriller; it will keep you on the edge of your seat but also gives you so much to think about. It looks at how we all bend the truth but questions how far you would take it. Laura and Kit's relationship is covering up so many secrets and lies on both sides. You do begin to wonder what will happen if one of them slips up, are they really strong enough to face the truth together?
I would highly recommend this book, Erin Kelly delivers an intricate and gripping plot, full of tension and surprises.

BOOK REVIEW: Us By David Nicholls

Douglas Peterson understands his wife's need to 'rediscover herself' now that their son is leaving home.
He just thought that they'd be doing their rediscovering together.
So when Connie announces that she will be leaving too, he resolves to make their last family holiday into the trip of a lifetime: one that will draw the three of them closer, and win the respect of his son. One that will make Connie fall in love with him all over again.
The hotels are booked, the tickets bought, the itinerary planned and printed.
What could possibly go wrong?

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton

Pages: 399

I finished this book a couple of days ago and I'm still not 100% sure as to what I think. Predictably, I loved One Day which is the only other book I've read by David Nicholls so I was very excited when Us was published. However, it has sat on my shelf for over a year as I was worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. Realistically I'm not sure if it did but I think this is mainly because I really disliked two of the main characters. Douglas Peterson is far from perfect as a character but I couldn't bear his wife Connie or son Albie. To the point that there were times when I had to stop reading this book as I was so wound up by them.
The idea behind the story was good; Douglas Peterson's son is about to leave home for university and it is at this point that his wife Connie decides to tell him that she may be leaving home once Albie has gone. Douglas is devastated; he could not love his wife more, she is his whole life and he can't imagine a future without her. He decides to take them both on a family holiday across Europe. He wants it to be perfect, he wants to win his son's affections back and to convince Connie to stay. But what if it is all too late?
I really enjoyed the travel aspect of the book and as with One Day, I loved how observational David Nicholls is and the simply way in which he presents very big emotions and ideas. But Albie and Connie consistently annoyed me; I know that you don't have to like every character but I just wanted Douglas to give up trying to win them over and go and find someone else.
The ending of the story just about salvaged the book for me but I was left feeling like I had been made to sit in a room with people I didn't like for too long.
So there you go, I'm not sure if I enjoyed this book, maybe that was the author's intention all along? If you've read it then let me know what you think!

BOOK REVIEW: The Art of Baking Blind by Sarah Vaughan

There are many reasons to bake: to feed; to create; to impress; to nourish; to define ourselves; and sometimes, it has to be said, to perfect. But often we bake to fulfil a hunger that would be better filled by a simple gesture from a dear one. We bake to love and be loved.
In 1966, Kathleen Eaden, cookery writer and wife of a supermarket magnate, published The Art of Baking, her guide to nurturing a family by creating the most exquisite pastries, biscuits and cakes.
Now, five amateur bakers are competing to become the new Mrs Eaden. There's Jenny, facing an empty nest, now her family has flown; Claire, who has sacrificed her dreams for her daughter, Mike, trying to parent his two kids after his wife's death, Vicki who has dropped everything to be at home with her baby boy; and Karen, perfect Karen, who knows what it's like to have nothing and is determined her facade shouldn't slip.
As unlikely alliances are forged and secrets rise to the surface, making the choicest choux bun seems the least of the contestant's problems. For they will learn- as Mrs Eaden did before them- that while perfection is possible in the kitchen, it's very much harder in life. 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 417

The Art of Baking Blind by Sarah Vaughan is such a good book! With The Great British Bake Off on our TVs again, the publication of the paperback version today is perfectly timed,

The book follows five amateur bakers, Jenny, Mike, Karen, Vicki and Claire as they compete in a competition to become the new Mrs Eaden. Kathleen Eaden, a famous cookery writer published The Art of Baking which became a classic (think Mary Berry or Delia Smith) All five contestants hold Mrs Eaden in high regard so the competition is high.
Each competitor has their own back story plus the book goes back in time to show Kathleen Eaden's life when she was writing her famous book. So there is a lot going on but Sarah Vaughan brings it all together expertly, creating a plot that will keep you enthralled from the very beginning.
I felt that I identified with several of the main characters and the one thing they all have in common is their love of baking. I really loved how Vaughan showed how and why baking had become such a big part of their lives. Baking is one of my hobbies and I think that the author cleverly showed how emotive it is as a past-time. I love trying new recipes and getting them right but the main reason I enjoy baking is that I like to be able to share it with other people. I love it when my daughter asks for a particular cake that I make as I know that I have created something that she enjoys and will remember from her childhood.
The Art of Baking Blind appealed to me on so many different levels. It was warm, witty and insightful. I felt like it was a very comforting read that resonated with me, I highly recommend that you read it,

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.  

BOOK REVIEW:Mr Mercedes by Stephen King

'Who is going to be the fish in this relationship and who is going to be the fisherman?'
BILL HODGES, retired cop, tormented by 'the Mercedes massacre', a case he never solved.
BRADY HARTSFIELD, perpetrator of that notorious crime, and preparing to kill again.
Now each is closing in on the other in a mega-stakes race against time from world-wide, best selling master of suspense, Stephen King.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 405

This is the first Stephen King novel I have read and I loved it! I know that Mr Mercedes is not like his other books; it is more of a thriller than a horror but I thought it was fantastic. I can see why Stephen King is so well respected, reading this was like being given a master-class in story-telling.
Bill Hodges is retired and bored. He is thinking back over old cases he had to leave unsolved; the most important being 'the Mercedes Massacre'. Someone drove a Mercedes into a big group of people in the early hours of the morning. These were desperate people, queuing in the early hours to attend a jobs fair; the driver killed eight and seriously maimed many more. The fact that the killer was simply able to drive off into the fog has frustrated Hodges as he feels he has failed to get justice for the victims.
Brady Hartsfield was the Mercedes Killer; he still can't quite believe that he got away with it. He is ready to kill again and he wants Bill Hodges to know about it. Here begins a game of cat and mouse, will Hodges be able to identify Brady before he strikes again?
Mr Mercedes is beautifully written and expertly plotted. Brady Hartsfield is a vile creation and truly believable, he's terrifying. There is a follow up to this book which I will definitely be reading but it has also made me want to try some of King's horror novels so let me know if you have any favourites or suggestions of what I should begin with?

Book Review: The Stag and Hen Weekend by Mike Gayle

Phil is thrilled that Helen has finally accepted his proposal, even though he practically had to bully her into it. But before the big day, there's still one last ordeal to overcome: His stag weekend in Amsterdam. Because even with his mates all pushing forty, it's guaranteed to be less about clogs and tulips and more about getting off their faces and trawling bars for girls.
But when Phil gets talking to one such girl, everything changes: not because he fancies her, or even because she's pretty but because they have much in common, even if neither of them knows it yet.
Helen loves her boyfriend Phil, so why with a week to go has she yet to buy her wedding dress? Convinced it's a case of cold feet, she lets her friend Yaz talk her into celebrating with a Hen weekend at a luxury spa hotel.
Arriving at The Manor, Helen is expecting a weekend of champagne, pampering and laughs with old friends. The one thing she hasn't planned for is running into her ex-fiance, the man who broke her heart, the man who has a secret he's desperate the share.
Told as two separate stories that have implications for both Helen and Phil's future happiness, The Stag and Hen weekend is a fresh and original story of a couple trying to get it right and all too often getting it spectacularly wrong. 

The Stag and Hen Weekend is a really good read and I love the idea of having two books in one. It took me a while to decide which half to start first but I decided that I have never and will never go on a stag weekend so thought I would see what that was all about first. And I have to admit  that I enjoyed Phil's half of the book more than Helen's, I'm not sure why but I liked him a lot more as a character.
Mike Gayle keeps a good pace throughout, I was worried that I would find Helen's story repetitive after reading Phil's as there are certain points where they are together. However, this just didn't happen, instead you get to know both characters extremely well. They are both having doubts about the wedding and this concept gives you both of their perspectives where as normally you just get one half of the story in a book like this.
I have said in the past that I don't read a lot of books by male authors but Mike Gayle has once again shown me that I am clearly missing out. It was really refreshing to have a male central character as well as a female. In most of the books I read, the male is the support character or a plot device but as I said I actually found Phil's story more entertaining.
I have read and enjoyed a couple of this author's other books in the past but this one is definitely my favourite. It is a very clever idea and I think that The Stag and Hen weekend will appeal to many readers.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

May thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a copy of this book to review. It is published in February 2012.