Month January 2023

The Night Man by Jørn Lier Horst @MichaelJBooks #thriller #crime #policeprocedural #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Night Man by Jørn Lier Horst. I was fortunate to win a hardback copy of this book over on Twitter from the publisher Penguin Michael Joseph just before Christmas.

It is only as I write up this post that I have noticed that it is also a TV series on BBC4 so I will be having a look at that at some point.

WILLIAM WISTING IS IN A RACE AGAINST TIME

When a severed head is found on a stake in the quiet town of Larvik, Police Inspector William Wisting is called in to investigate. The only clue? The killer is trying to send a message.

ALL ROADS LEAD BACK TO THE NIGHT MAN

As the media closes in on the biggest story of the year, Wisting’s journalist daughter Line receives a tip. Soon, it becomes clear that there is more to this case than anyone thought. A criminal network has lodged itself deep into the roots of the city, and it’s up to Wisting to take down the elusive and dangerous Night Man.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

But hunting down The Night Man will take everything Wisting has, and it’s all too easy for the hunter to become the prey . . .

MY REVIEW

This was a brilliantly atmospheric and tense crime thriller and the first book I have read in this series. The main character is Larvik Wisting, who is tested to his limits in his latest case. He also gets to work alongside his daughter who has returned home to delve into the subject for her newspaper.

It is only now as I write this review that I had a glance at the author’s bio, after reading the book I am not surprised that he has a police background. He is a Senior Investigating officer in the Norweigian Police Force, I do think his experience shows in his writing.

The story was gripping from the outset and I did find it easy to get to grips with the characters given that this is not the first in the series. There are some mentions of backstories that I assume have been dealt with in previous books, and while it is always great to read in order this one works well as a standalone.

As the synopsis suggests this is a case that has a brutal start, a head placed on a spike is discovered. Wisting’s daughter also has leads but neither one realises how far this case will go and what it will eventually involve. There is far more to this story than the synopsis lets on so I have to be super careful not to let anything slip. The cases are linked but how and for what ends is something that becomes a brilliant journey for the reader.

I did like the character of Wisting, he is a detective that is willing to ask for help and listens to others. This is something that needs to happen given the route this author takes with this story. While this is based mainly in Norway, there are clues that lead further afield. As for who the Night Man is, well, I am keeping quiet about that one but it wasn’t what I thought it would be.

I really enjoyed this book and it was great to discover a new series I look forward to reading more from this author. This is a book that fans of crime thrillers and police procedurals will adore, a twisted and unexpected storyline and one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jorn Lier Horst (born in Bamble, Telemark 1970) is a former Senior Investigating Officer at the Norwegian police force. He made his literary debut as a crime writer in 2004 and is considered one of the foremost Nordic crime writers.

His series of mystery novels starring chief inspector William Wisting provides a detailed and authentic insight into how criminal cases are investigated and how it affects those involved, whether private or professional. The books represent a simple and accurate picture of the modern Nordic societies and is characterized by political and social commentary subtext.

MANY THANKS FOR READING MY POST, A LIKE OR SHARE WOULD BE AMAZING 🙂 XX

My Week In Books (w/e 29th January 2023) #booklove #booknews #MeAndMyBooks

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Welcome to another weekly update of books I have read. This week has seen me reading some books from NetGalley and picking some from my own TBR shelf.

Love Will Tear Us Apart by C. K. McDonnell – this is the 3rd book in the Stranger Times series and I adored this as much as the previous ones. Stranger Times is a niche newspaper that reports on strange occurances and events. Its editor Banecroft is a force to be reckoned withand a new assistant editor has his number. Hannah, the othe ex assistant editor has her own story as do other members of the staff. This is a fabulous fantasy and very humerous book. Full review next minth near the publication day.

The Silence Project by Carole Hailey – this is a book that does have mixed reviews but I loved it. Emilia is the narrator for this book and it tells of how her mum stopped speaking and lived at the bottom of hte garden. What started as one womans way of trying to find peace and listen to the world around her changed into a world wide following. Told in the past and then in the future this was a gripping book and I loved how the author dealt with the issues that arose. This is a dystopian that hdoes have an alarming believable adge to it. Full review next month near publication day.

The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore – this is a very good read and the idea of having a week away in an isolted retreat to relax and come to terms with life and its problems sounds great. Well it did until I read this one and discover that this is not as serene and idyllic as it sounds. THis is a mystery thriller that had me trying to work out the full extent of the depth that the author has gone with her characters. I did think at times it was a little repetative, but still a very good book. Full review next month.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill – I have had this book for ages on my kindle and I am aware of their being a film, but have not watched it. I do like a good classic style gothic mystery and this one is fabulous. I really enjoyed the eerie atmosphere ofthe book and the odd looks from people along with conversations that suddenly stop when you walk into a room. The auhtor has created a story full of suspense and I adored it. Full review will follow over the next week or so.

Another 4 week book for me again this week 🙂

Happy Reading and have a great week ahead

All the best

Yvonne xx

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The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage by Christie Barlow #contemporaryfiction #romance #bookreview

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I am delighted to share my review today for The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage by Christie Barlow. This is the 10th book in the Love Heart Lane series and it is just a fabulous series to read.

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what

A new start…

When Jinny Birdwhistle is pushed over the edge one time too many times and quits her job as a tabloid journalist, an impromptu – and rather unconventional – job search leads her to a new house, car, and career making honey and chutney in the small Scottish village of Heartcross. And with handsome beekeeper Gabe Warner to help her learn the ropes, she’s ready to embrace ‘country girl life’ and leave the past behind her.

…uncovers an old secret

Yet there’s more to strong and silent Gabe than meets the eye and though Jinny planned to leave her journalistic instincts in London, she can’t help doing a little digging. Now, as she uncovers a mystery that links to her own history, Jinny realises that you can’t outrun the truth and the only way to move forward is to face the past. But now that she’s at home in Heartcross, she won’t have to do it alone…

MY REVIEW

I adore this series and it is great to meet another character who is due to become the next resident of Heartcross in the Love Heart Lane series.

Jinny is a journalist in London, he father owns the paper and she wants nothing. It is her father’s attitude that makes her stop and want to evaluate what she is doing. After an exchange of words, Jinny leaves London, her flat and her job to try to get a job in the adorable Scottish village.

Bumblebee Cottage used to belong to Dixie and George, it is now empty and waiting for the next chapter in its history. Jinny has big boots to follow but the gorgeous Gabe will be around to help her when she needs it. Did I mention that Gabe has a secret? No! Oh, he isn’t the only one who does though…

This is another gorgeous read and one that I really enjoyed from the outset. Jinny is a character who I liked, while she has had everything handed to her, including her job, flat and car, she has not had much in the way of choice. It is when her father wants her to intrude on someone’s private life that she realises that she doesn’t want this life, that people have rights and that her father has no moral boundaries.

Coming to Heartcross is a step away from everything she knows. Luckily the community is supportive and amazing, if you have read any of this series then you will already know this. If you haven’t then go to the beginning of the series and dread them, you will get to know the area, and the community and they are all amazing books.

Anyway, where was I? Yes, supportive community… and they do look out for visitors and guests. It turns out that Gabe has a few secrets and this is something that the journo in Jinny just has to delve into. Apart from that, if you knew you liked someone and wanted to know a bit more you would do the same thing. Before you sit there and shake your head and deny it, have you looked people up on Facebook, Instagram or other social media sites? Yep, I knew you had!

So the secrets, are good and they are also heartbreaking. But this is not a sad book, it is one about making fresh starts and Bumblebee Cottage is just the place for that. Once a thriving business makes chutneys and honey, it needs a new occupier to breathe fresh air into the jars and recipes. Will Jinny be the one to do that and can Gabe help her or is there too much hurt for them?

This is a fabulous book and one fan of cosy, heartwarming, contemporary fiction and romance will adore it. I have loved every book in the series and this is another that hits all the right spots and I would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christie Barlow is the international bestselling author of twelve romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn’t writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Many thanks fore reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Strangeways: A Prison Officer’s Story by Neil Samworth #audiobook #nonfiction #bookreview

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I am still catching up with reviews from the end of last year. Today’s review is for Strangeway’s: A Prison Officers Story by Neil Samworth. I listened to this from Audible and what a brilliant book it is to listen to.

Neil ‘Sam’ Samworth spent eleven years working as a prison officer in HMP Manchester, aka Strangeways. A tough Yorkshireman with a soft heart, Sam had to deal with it all – gangsters and gangbangers, terrorists and psychopaths, addicts and the mentally ill. Men who should not be locked up and men who should never be let out.

Strangeways is a shocking and at times darkly funny account of life in a high security prison. Sam tackles cell fires and self-harmers, and goes head to head with some of the most dangerous men in the country. He averts a Christmas Day riot after turkey is taken off the menu and replaced by fish curry, and stands up to officers who abuse their position. He describes being attacked by prisoners, and reveals the problems caused by radicalization and the drugs flooding our prisons.

As staffing cuts saw Britain’s prison system descend into crisis, the stress of the job – the suicides, the inhumanity of the system, and one assault too many – left Sam suffering from PTSD. This raw, searingly honest memoir is a testament to the men and women of the prison service and the incredibly difficult job we ask them to do.

MY REVIEW

WOW! I have been listening to this audio version and it is such an amazing book to listen to. The author tells his story as he worked in prisons and especially his time at Strangeways in Manchester as an officer. The narrator is amazing and his voice is perfect for this style of the book.

Samworth tells how he joined the prison service, the roles he had, his upbringing and right the way through until he left. There are some really awful stories and what he has seen and how he has dealt with the many people he has come across. He comes across as a tough bloke, but also fair. He has had some dangerous run-ins with inmates and injuries he has suffered.

He has seen problems with the prison service over the years and he does mention how he has suffered from PTSD, this is something that I imagine is rife among staff in this service. The people they are mixing with are criminals, some are highly aggressive, drug dealers, and gang members, some are psychopaths and then some are just evil. He explains how prisoners use various tactics to incite riots or to get out of their cells.

When I first saw this title I was interested to get a first-hand account of what it is like to work in a high-security prison. I know there are TV shows, but I wanted something a bit more and this book definitely gave me that. A chance to get behind the scenes in a no holds barred style of the book. There are many TV shows and documentaries about prisoners and criminals but there is very little about the officers.

This is a tough book to listen to but my goodness it was addictive. This is one for those who like to learn more about people and their jobs. Tough, gripping, sombre and one I would highly recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Don’t Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell #policeprocedural #crime #mystery #bookreview

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I am delighted to share my review today for Don’t Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell. This is the first book in the Detective Jennifer Knight series and it was an excellent crime thriller with a twist!

You don’t know him. But he knows you.

Soon he would be able to touch her, to feel the warmth of her blood. And when the time came, nothing would stop him.

As D.C. Jennifer Knight investigates a routine stabbing in the quiet town of Haven, she is shocked at what seems like a personal message from beyond the grave.
When more bodies are found, Jennifer is convinced the killings are somehow linked. What she discovers is more chilling than she could possibly imagine. The murders mirror those of the notorious Grim Reaper – from over twenty years ago. A killer her mother helped convict.

Jennifer can no longer ignore the personal connection. Is there a copycat killer at work? Was the wrong man convicted? Or is there something more sinister at play …

With her mother’s terrifying legacy spiralling out of control, Jennifer must look into her own dark past in a fight not only to stop a killer – but to save herself and those she loves. 

MY REVIEW

I have recently read a book by this author and really enjoyed it. I often see her books being reviewed and they always intrigue me, I do have several books that I have bought based on those reviews, but I still need to read them!

It was good to start this series from the beginning, it’s not something I do often. Meeting Detective Jennifer Knight was an interesting experience. She works in Haven with fellow officer Will. They have a good working relationship and the banter between them attests to this. There is however something about Knight that means she is not really seen as a ‘proper detective’ as such, I mean she is but she is one that has been shunted down the pecking order and not given important cases, her partner Will is given the same sort of treatment.

Knight has a unique gift and this is something that gives her trouble but also makes her stand out as being different, not in a good way either. Others are suspicious of her for various reasons and I think they don’t see her as being stable enough to have their backs.

As the synopsis suggests, the duo have been given a case, it is one that could have links to other cases and maybe the past. The thing is with the past, you are never sure if it’s the right route to go down or if you are just trying to make things fit. Then, of course, there is that question… who is the past linked to?

This is a really good story and it is one that takes on some interesting turns, there is a paranormal or supernatural element to it, and I do know that this can put some people off but it is done in a very good way. Not corny or tongue-in-cheek and it does work well.

I enjoyed this a lot and it is definitely a series that I will be continuing. Great for those who like police procedurals, crime and thriller stories and also ones with a twist. It is one I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017 and the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018. Over 1.5 million books sold.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share owudl be amazing 🙂 xx

Unquiet Souls by Liz Mistry #crime #thriller #policeprocedural #bookreview

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I am still playing catch-up with books I read before Christmas, today’s review is for Unquiet Souls by Liz Mistry. This is the first book in the D.I. Gus McGuire series and I am definitely looking forward to reading more.

MY REVIEW

I have several books by this author, have seen loads of reviews and have yet to pick one up. Well, that changed when I decided to read Unquiet Souls. Oh my goodness, why have I not gotten to this series sooner or this author!!! Talk about a hard-hitting, brutal, crime thriller and police procedural or what! This was such an amazing book to read and one of those that I literally ‘did not want to put down’.

D.I Gus McGuire, I like him a lot btw, my first meeting with him is while he is still getting his head around a previous case and coming to terms with the loss of his best friend.

The main theme of the story centres around child abuse and trafficking, not a subject that makes for enjoyable reading as such, but if done well makes for an addictive fictional story that opens your eyes. The author does deal with the abuse carefully and doesn’t go into details, which I am really glad about. Instead, she carefully uses the reactions of others to impart the horrific and awful brutality.

Gus is back to work and is dealing with a murder that, as the synopsis tells, is when the abused children are discovered. This is the start of an investigation that has roots in the past and is obviously a continuing case for some other officers. Gus and his team are tasked with finding all they can and discovering the truth.

The author definitely knows how to twist a tale and had me so intrigued I didn’t really attempt to try to work things out. I was happy following the team and discovering things along with them. There were a couple of points where I thought, “I wonder,” but to be honest it was only because the author had gently nudged me in the right direction.

This is a hard-boiled crime thriller, it is great to start a series at the beginning and this is something that doesn’t happen very often with me. I do like how the team have been set up within this book and they look like they are going to be a trusted group.

I do like how the author switches between Gus and his personal life and problems as well as the investigation. There are twists and turns in both.

A fabulous start to a series I am definitely going to read more of and it is a book I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in Scotland, Made in Bradford sums up Liz Mistry’s life. Liz uses her experiences of living and working in the inner city to flavour her writing. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’ whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath.
Struggling with severe clinical depression and anxiety for a large number of years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. Being a debut novelist in her fifties was something Liz had only dreamed of and she counts herself lucky, whilst pinching herself regularly to make sure it’s all real. One of the nicest things about being a published author is chatting with and responding to readers’ feedback and Liz regularly does events at local libraries, universities, literature festivals and open mics. She also teaches creative writing too.

Social Media – Twitter – Website

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My Week IN Books (w/e 22nd January 2023) #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 3 Comments

Hello and welcome to my weekly round-up of books.

It’s a four-book week this week, one of them was a shortie so not as impressive as it may sound 🙂

Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues by Jonathan Kennedy – this was a brilliant book to read and if you are a fan of history then this is definitely one to keep an eye out for. Starting with humans at their very beginning the author took me through the ages and showed how it was possible for plagues to be as deadly as they have now become. The publication isn’t until April this year so my full review will be out closer to the time.

Life and Love at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke – this is another brilliant book in the Mulberry Lane series and one that I adore. The author has now brought us up to the swinging 60s and with new ventures on the horizon things are, as always changing. This is a gorgeous series that follows the main characters, their families have grown and the next generation is stepping up to make their mark on the world. A full review for this one will be beginning of February as part of the Blog Tour.

Gone by Ruby Speechly – this is a domestic thriller and is mainly from the perspective of the mother. Her eldest son has gone missing. There are signs that something bad may have happened but neither the mother nor this reader realised how far the author was willing to go with her storyline. Very enjoyable read and one that has left me wanting to read more by this author. Full review at the end of February as part of the Blog Tour.

Rock Art for Beginners by F. Sehnaz Bac – this was a title I spotted on NetGalley while I quickly nipped on there to leave a review. It was the cover that caught my eye, and I was able to read this one straight away. This is for beginners but there is also a lot of more detailed work involved. I would say that this is good for a beginner but some of the things are for more experienced artists or crafters. A gorgeous book to look through and one that gives me ideas for other craft projects. Happy to recommend this one.

Have a great week ahead,

all the best

Yvonne xx

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The Waiting Rooms by Eve Smith @OrendaBooks #dystopian #thriller #suspense #bookreview

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I am delighted to share my review today for The Waiting Rooms by Eve Smith. I think it was around this time last year that I read this author’s next book, Off Target (Full review HERE). It made such an impression that I immediately bought a copy of The Waiting Rooms, unfortunately, it took me nearly a year to read it. But it was excellent and has left me looking forward to more from this author.

The Waiting Rooms

Decades of spiralling drug resistance have unleashed a global antibiotic crisis. Ordinary infections are untreatable, and a scratch from a pet can kill. A sacrifice is required to keep the majority safe: no one over seventy is allowed new antibiotics. The elderly are sent to hospitals nicknamed ‘The Waiting Rooms’ … hospitals where no one ever gets well.

Twenty years after the crisis takes hold, Kate begins a search for her birth mother, armed only with her name and her age. As Kate unearths disturbing facts about her mother’s past, she puts her family in danger and risks losing everything. Because Kate is not the only secret that her mother is hiding. Someone else is looking for her, too.

Sweeping from an all-too-real modern Britain to a pre-crisis South Africa, The Waiting Rooms is epic in scope, richly populated with unforgettable characters, and a tense, haunting vision of a future that is only a few mutations away.

MY REVIEW

With Covid, Avian Flu and also the threat of resistance to antibiotics fresh in my mind I decided to read The Waiting Rooms. I have read the 2nd book Off Target by this author and it made a huge impression. The Waiting Rooms is an amazing book to read and at times one that can be quite uncomfortable.

This book is set up as having two timelines. One is pre-crisis and the other is a near-future setting. The pre-crisis draws the reader into a world where antibiotics are not working, and infections, diseases and illnesses are deadly for those who contract them. Wave after wave of resistant diseases is killing millions of people worldwide. The race to find alternative medicines and cures is on.

The near-future setting is one that we are sort of familiar with, face masks, no contact and being super careful about being in groups. However, the author has made it a much more dangerous scenario with riots, risks of attack and the dilemma of what to do with people who are too ill to continue with their lives.

While the story in the near future does have medical implications there is another underlying story. How this is connected to the pre-crisis setting is one that is intriguing and shows how things change over the decades. How dealing with one problem can set off a series of events that causes a larger problem in the future. I think this is something we can relate to easily when we look at fossil fuels and other industrial advances against the global climate we live in today. The author has taken a similar route and it is one that is all too easy to be able to realise.

This is a brilliant read. The terminology is basic to understand and the importance of decisions made and that has to be made is one that keeps the story moving. Events and characters have been woven and twisted so that I always wanted to what was going to happen next.

I adored the suspense and thrill of this story, but it also exudes an element of reality. An eye-opener of a thriller and one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Other Guest by Heidi Perks #NetGalley @centurybooksuk #mystery #thriller #murder #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Other Guest by Heidi Perks. I do enjoy this author’s books and I have read several of them. I would also like to wish the author a Happy Publication Day 🙂

My huge thanks to Century Books UK for accepting my request to review this title via NetGalley.

She thinks she knows the truth. But what if she’s wrong?

Laila and her husband arrive for a week’s holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset.

As Laila sits by the pool she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the other family staying in their resort.

Em has no idea who Laila is, or that she has been watching her and her teenage sons and husband so intently.

Five days later their worlds will be blown apart by a horrifying event.

Laila thinks she knows the truth of what happened. But in telling Em what she’s seen, she stands to lose everything she holds dear.

And what if she’s got it wrong?

MY REVIEW

I do enjoy this author’s books and this one, The Other Guest has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes.

Laila and her husband are having a getaway on a Greek island it is a chance for them to reconnect and try to get their marriage back on track. Things have been tough for them after several rounds of failed IVF, and Laila is distraught when she realises that there may be no more rounds to come.

At this luxury resort, they meet various couples and families, some they had seen on the journey to the hotel and they will inevitably bump into them at various points of their stay. What none of them expect is the death of one of the guests.

An inspector comes to ask and make inquiries about all those at the hotel, the author keeps her cast to a minimum. She does this by sticking to those that Laila has met or seen, this makes it easy to keep track of who is who.

While Laila has been dealing with her own inner turmoil she is aware of other things going on, she loves people-watching and while her husband thinks she can get obsessed, she has her own thoughts about things.

This is a great read and one that I found myself easily falling into and getting on with. There are plenty of twists and some red herrings and then there are some other much deeper and darker things that emerge.

While this is an engrossing book and one that I enjoyed, I did feel that the ending was dragged out a little too much, while there were still things that needed answering I just thought it could have been done sooner. It didn’t ruin the story for me but did take the edge off it a little.

An enjoyable read and one for fans of contemporary fiction and holiday crime and mystery readers. It is one I would happily recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid #historicalfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for a book that has been out for quite a while now. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a brilliant book and one that has been sitting on my kindle since it was first released. Don’t ask me why I didn’t read it sooner, but I am so glad I finally did. I did read this one before Christmas and I am trying to get caught up with my reviews!

A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous break up.

Everyone knows Daisy Jones & The Six, but nobody knows the real reason why they split at the absolute height of their popularity…until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go-Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Another band getting noticed is The Six, led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

MY REVIEW

I have seen this book around for a while now, I bought it a while ago as well but only just got around to it. This is a fictional book about Daisy Jones and a band called The Six. The title does kind of give it away!

The Six are already a band, they have already had an album. Daisy Jones is an up-and-coming star and it is a chance comment that brings them together.

This book is set out as a documentary-style transcript. It is very easy to get used to this style and as it is a transcript you always know who is saying what. The author has created a story that is incredibly addictive and all the time I was reading this I had to remind myself that it was a fictional book about fictional people.

The author delves into the lives of her characters before they became the band known as Daisy Jones & The Six. This is such an insightful look into the lives of each of the members when the drugs, sex and rock’n’roll lifestyle was notorious around rock bands. The author doesn’t hold back in this and her characters go through some tough choices.

The main man behind The Six is Billy Dunne. There is a certain amount of animosity from the rest of the band at times as he takes charge of the direction they are going. Bringing in Daisy creates problems, but also adds a balance. However, two dynamic characters such as Billy and Dasiy are going to create waves.

The author has packed this story with so much tension, excitement, and mayhem of living a lifestyle in the late 60s and early 70s. Time on the road, creating new songs and how the dynamics between the band, their families and friends take its toll.

A fabulous story that I am so glad I finally got around to reading. Exciting and sad at times but with an addictive quality. I soon found characters I preferred over others and I did have an interest in hoping for the best for others. An unusual style but a brilliant book. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx