Category: dark humour
+ abuse, childhood, coming-of-age, crime fiction, dark humour, family, fiction, friendship, Historical fiction, humour fiction, Iceland noir, List, literature, murder, murder mystery, mystery, Psychological fiction, relationships, review, Scottish Highlands, short stories, sisters, sixties, split personality, supernatural, superstition, thriller
2020 – A Year in Books
Here is a round-up of my favourite books of 2020. Being furloughed during the first lock-down, I got used to reading far more books than in previous years and it also saw the beginning of my new ‘career’ taking part in blog tours. The following are not just from those blog tours, but also NetGalley and Pigeonhole reads. I hope 2021 has as many … Read More 2020 – A Year in Books
+ dark humour, fantasy, fiction, folklore, humour fiction, lycanthropy, magic, review, supernatural, superstition, werewolf
The Stranger Times by by CK McDonnell
There are Dark Forces at work in our world (and in Manchester in particular) and so thank God The Stranger Times is on hand to report them. A weekly newspaper dedicated to the weird and the wonderful (but more often the weird) of modern life, it is the go-to publication for the unexplained and inexplicable . . . At least that’s their pitch. The reality is … Read More The Stranger Times by by CK McDonnell
+ abuse, anthology, crime fiction, dark humour, fiction, humour fiction, Iceland noir, List, literature, murder, mystery, politics, Psychological fiction, relationships, review, Scandi noir, thriller
My 8 favourite books of 2020 second half
Earlier this year I published my Top 8 books of the first half of 2020. These are my Top 8 books of the second half of the year. There are so many more, but I have tried to cut it down. Her Last Words by Kim Kelly There is something very personal about Her Last Words. It feels as though the author has lived it … Read More My 8 favourite books of 2020 second half
Old Hobb’s Christmas Adventure by Cat on a Piano Productions / Theatrephonic
No pantomime this Christmas? No live show to go to? Well never mind. Cat on a Piano Productions have recorded this gem just for you. Emily is a spoilt, greedy child. Her mother is a right snobby cow. Poor old Styles – their ‘man’ – gets no love or respect, even at Christmas, He just gets to carry the shopping. Totally overloaded with things … Read More Old Hobb’s Christmas Adventure by Cat on a Piano Productions / Theatrephonic
Cooking for Cannibals by Rich Leder
Fountain of youth? More like murderous medication! Carrie Kromer pushes the boundaries of science, not her social life. The brilliant behavioural gerontologist’s idea of a good time is hanging out with her beloved lab rats and taking care of her elderly mother and the other eccentric old folks at the nursing home. So no one is more surprised than Carrie when she steals the … Read More Cooking for Cannibals by Rich Leder
+ anthology, Christmas, crime fiction, dark humour, fiction, murder, review, short stories, short story, writing
Afraid of the Christmas Lights: An Anthology of Crime Stories
by Mark Billingham, Val McDermid, Rachael Blok, Heather Critchlow, Sara Collins , Elle Croft, James Delargy, Clare Empson, Jo Furniss, Sophie Hannah, T.E. Kinsey, N.J. Mackay, S.R. Masters, Phoebe Morgan, Dominic Nolan, Robert Scragg, Victoria Selman, Kate Simants, Adam Southward, Harriet Tyce Festive Shorts from the Biggest Stars in Crime Fiction My Review Some of my favourite authors amongst these including Victoria Selman, Phoebe Morgan and James Delargy. I’ve selected a few of the ones I enjoyed the most to review. An Unexpected Present by … Read More Afraid of the Christmas Lights: An Anthology of Crime Stories
+ adventure, crime fiction, dark humour, Detective novel, hostage, kidnapping, murder, police drama, review, secrets, writing
Kill a Stranger by Simon Kernick
They took your fiancée.They framed you for murder.You’re given one chance to save her. To clear your name.You must kill someone for them.They give you the time and place.The weapon. The target.You have less than 24 hours.You only know that no-one can be trusted…and nothing is what it seems. My Review Very clever plotting with lots of twists and turns. Who can you trust? … Read More Kill a Stranger by Simon Kernick
+ anthology, crime fiction, dark humour, fiction, hostage, murder, psycopath, review, short stories, short story, thriller, writing
The Thriller Collection by Alan Gorevan
An unmissable collection for fans of fast-paced reads. Three action-packed books in a single volume. #TheThrillerCollection #TheForbiddenRoom #TheHostage #HitandRun @AlanGorevan @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours Facebook @damppebblesblogtours The Forbidden Room: You and your partner are looking forward to a romantic break in the rugged landscape of West Cork, on the south west coast of Ireland. Cliff walks, seafood dinners and spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. But a storm … Read More The Thriller Collection by Alan Gorevan
+ anthology, dark humour, fantasy, fiction, short stories, short story, story within a story, supernatural, writing
An Irrational Fear of Dogs by Veronika Jordan
Extracts from An Irrational Fear of Dogs by Veronika Jordan @cookiebiscuit #shortstories Double Bill (Extract) Goodbye Sarah. I bet you thought we would be friends forever. How wrong you were. The two of us were going to stand here and watch as Bill’s coffin was lowered into the ground. We pictured ourselves distraught, crying on each other’s shoulders, coming together in our shared grief, … Read More An Irrational Fear of Dogs by Veronika Jordan
+ dark humour, fantasy, fiction, lycanthropy, short stories, short story, supernatural, superstition, werewolf
A Diet of Werewolves – A Modern Fairy Tale by Veronika Jordan
‘I’m not like other men,’ said Dan. ‘I’m not even like other werewolves.’ ‘I don’t understand Mr Shaffer,’ the psychiatrist shuffled his papers and coughed. ‘…like other werewolves. There is no such thing as a werewolf or lycanthrope as it’s really called. It exists only in myths and legends. Please explain further.’ ‘I can do better than that,’ Dan was slowly sipping a blended … Read More A Diet of Werewolves – A Modern Fairy Tale by Veronika Jordan
+ crime fiction, dark humour, Detective novel, fiction, friendship, murder, murder mystery, police drama, review, thriller, writing
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved killings. But when a local property developer shows up dead, ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ find themselves in the middle of their first live case. The four friends, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron, might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Can our … Read More The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
+ anthology, crime fiction, dark humour, Detective novel, fiction, fifties, jealousy, literature, murder, murder mystery, mystery, review, short stories, short story, sixties, thriller, writing
Vintage Crime by Martin Edwards (Editor)
Vintage Crimes is a CWA anthology with a difference, celebrating members’ work over the years. The book gathers stories from the mid-1950s until the twenty-first century by great names of the past, great names of the present together with a few hidden treasures by less familiar writers. The first CWA anthology, Butcher’s Dozen, appeared in 1956, and was co-edited by Julian Symons, Michael Gilbert, … Read More Vintage Crime by Martin Edwards (Editor)
