The Missing Years by Lexie Elliott

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…

Ooh this was a gripping novel.  Creepy house, strange goings on and an absent father make up for an interesting, and at times unnerving read.  It’s wonderfully plotted and paced, keeping you riveted until the very end.  There is a sense of the paranormal going on and at times I wondered why the hell Ailsa was hanging around there, she’s made of tougher stuff than me that’s for sure.  This is one of those reviews where I really don’t want to give much away as it’s a a joy to see the story unfold before you.  However I will admit I am a bit of a sucker of story where a house is almost a character in itself and Lexie builds up the atmosphere brilliantly here.  I absolutely love a few shocks along the way and The Missing Years certainly saved the best for last.  Lexie had written a fabulous novel that I couldn’t put down.  It’s still making me smile.  A deliciously creepy, thrilling read that will make the perfect pool side companion this summer.

Thanks so much to Anne Carter for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.

The Missing Years is published on June 6th by Corvus Books.

About the author

Lexie Elliott

Lexie Elliott has been writing for as long as she can remember, but she began to focus on it more seriously after she lost her banking job in 2009 due to the Global Financial Crisis. After some success in short story competitions, she began planning a novel. With two kids and a (new) job, it took some time for that novel to move from her head to the page, but the result was The French Girl, which was published by Berkley in February 2018.

When she’s not writing, Lexie can be found running, swimming or cycling whilst thinking about writing. In 2007 she swam the English Channel solo. She won’t be doing that again. In 2015 she ran 100km, raising money for Alzheimer Scotland. She won’t be doing that again either. But the odd triathlon or marathon isn’t out of the question.

Find out more about Lexie on her website: www.lexieelliott.com

You can find Lexie on Face book at http://www.facebook.com/lexieelliottwrites
You can follow Lexie on Twitter at @elliott_lexie

 

 

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The Bridal Party by J G Murray

Today I am delighted to kick off the blog tour for The Bridal Party by J G Murray.  This is one chilling read!

WINNER OF THE DEVIANT MINDS CRIME THRILLER PRIZE 2018

Sometimes friendship can be murder…

It’s the weekend of Clarisse’s bridal party, a trip the girls have all been looking forward to.

Then, on the day of their flight, Tamsyn, the maid of honour, suddenly backs out. Upset and confused, they try to make the most of the stunning, isolated seaside house they find
themselves in.  But, there is a surprise in store – Tamsyn has organised a murder mystery, a sinister game in which they must discover a killer in their midst. As tensions quickly boil over, it becomes clear to them all that there are some secrets that won’t stay buried…

From the very first page this novel grabs your attention with bloodstains and the creepy events.   Immediately the atmosphere is filled with tension but as you continue you are drip fed information leaving you on edge and unable to stop reading. We going a group of friends embarking on a hen weekend in Jersey.  A weekend of fun, drink and surprises all organised by maid of honour, Tamsyn.   However things begin to unravel when, at the last minute, Tamsyn in unable to make it.  Now it’s down to the rest of the hens to make sure the bride still has a weekend she’ll remember.

Things are looking up when they arrive at a luxurious, yet remote house with the promise of cosy, drink fuelled fun.  It’s not long before a series of events occur that leave the friends feeling uneasy and on edge, and what should be a fun filled girlie weekend becomes a fight for survival from an unknown predator. Desperate to keep their fearss from the bride, the hens try to keep the atmosphere light but there’s a growing sense of unease as small things start to chip away. It seems that events from the past are coming back to haunt them and being miles from nowhere, with no phone lines or internet connection, things begin to spiral out of control. This is quite a intense read and the end was brilliantly done, leaving me reeling with the after effects.

Allow yourself some me-time, this is a novel to curl up with and read in one sitting. Absolutely chilling. Sink into the atmosphere and be carried along on the ride.

About the author

J G Murray grew up in Cornwall and, after a spell selling chocolates in Brussels, qualified as an
English teacher. Murray now lives, teaches and writes in London.

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and for my review copy.