“For parents, carers, teachers, and of course, children, who love books like The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris and The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, this stunningly poetic picture book is a timeless ode to nature, hope, and protecting our planet for future generations.”
The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush by Ruth Mary Flanagan is a heartfelt and beautifully
illustrated children’s picture book that weaves poetry and nature into an unforgettable tale.
Through the eyes of a singing mistle thrush, young readers are taken on a poignant journey of loss, resilience, and environmental awareness.
Genres: Children, Picture Book, Poetry, Nature, Illustrated
Publisher: Brown Dog Books
Publication date: May 2025
Reading age: 3 – 8
Instagram: @ruthmaryflanaganauthor
When the trees are cut down and the bird’s home is destroyed, its new song becomes a call to action—one that inspires change and hope for the future of the planet.
Perfect for sparking important conversations about nature, conservation, and shared responsibility, this book will resonate with children and adults alike.
My Review
It’s not often a children’s picture book makes me cry but The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush had me in tears at the end. Because this isn’t just a fictional story. It tells us what will happen if we plunder and destroy our beautiful planet, with no thought for the future. It can still be saved hopefully – though I’m not so sure – but we need to act now.
One day we’ll listen and there will be no bird song, or buzzing of bees, or the rustle of small animals in the undergrowth. We will have cut down the forests, and polluted the air until nothing will thrive.
The book is written in beautifully constructed rhyme, with stunning illustrations by Sarah Lovell. It makes us realise that we all have a ‘shared responsibility to the natural world.’ If you read this to your children, or they read it themselves, I hope you will be able to impress on them how important this message is.
Many thanks to @LiterallyPR for inviting me to be part of #TheLastSongoftheMistleThrush #blogtour.
PS “While the mistle thrush is not currently considered a rare species in the UK, its population has declined since the 1970s, and it is now classified as a red (high concern) species. Some factors believed to contribute to the decline include decreased annual survival rates, farmland degradation, and changes in agricultural practices.”
About the Author
Ruth Mary Flanagan is an award-winning poet, who writes about the wonder and fragility of nature.
Ruth Mary Flanagan
Instagram – @ruthmaryflanaganauthor
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Sarah Lovell
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Literally PR
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In this family, everyone is telling lies.
Pete never wanted another child. Before baby Erin was born, they were happy. If Natalie hadn’t got pregnant, he would never have done what he did.
Natalie knows things have been difficult since the surprise arrival of Erin. Life with Pete and their two other children – Emily and Zadie – has been balancing on a knife-edge.
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Now their home is full of guests at a party Natalie didn’t want to throw – and she’s about to reach breaking point.
But so is her family.
Because everyone has a secret that they’ve been hiding and when Erin suddenly disappears everyone becomes a suspect.
Surely no one here would want to harm their baby? But after the events of the party there are plenty of people who would want to hurt Natalie.
Including her husband…
My Review
I really enjoyed this and read it over two days. But there are a few things that wound me up about Natalie. This is her third child, so I get it – the other two were easy and Erin cries all the time. Natalie even imagines her baby hates her.
It’s obvious Natalie is suffering from post-natal depression. But when she goes to the doctor, she makes light of her desperation. Lay it on thick Nat. Get some help. Forget Valium (no-one takes that nowadays and ask for a modern anti-depressant together with some form of talking therapy). Take the baby in with you and get her checked over just in case she is suffering from colic, or is lactose intolerant or something else. Your husband can afford tickets to Australia and a diamond ring – spend it on a domestic cleaner and/or even a part-time nanny. I’m fuming!!
I was so involved in their lives (not in a creepy way like Natalie’s friend Eve), that I just had to keep reading. I did actually guess who took Erin and I almost snuck a quick peep at the ending to see if I was correct, but I resisted the temptation. Because everyone’s a suspect.
Pete is a bit of a prat, though nowhere near as bad as Eve makes him out to be, but Natalie doesn’t really help herself. Not that I’m blaming her, but she’s gradually sinking into a ‘slough of despond’, but instead of seeking help, she’s in denial. Not that I’m one to talk – denial is often the easy way out of facing the truth – but when your other children are suffering, you have to seek help. Teenager Emily feels that she is being put upon too much, being asked to help with the baby, while 8-year-old Zadie is wetting the bed and being disruptive at school.
Soon the whole family is falling apart and Pete is even more in denial than Natalie. You just want to knock their heads together and shout at them. Pete has his own answer to their problems – it’s based on rank stupidity – and things go from bad to worse.
Poor Erin. When she grows up, if she ever finds out what happened, or that she was initially unwanted, she’ll need therapy for many years.
Many thanks to #CompulsiveReaders for inviting me to be part of the #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
About the Authors
MJ Arlidge has worked in television for the last twenty years, specialising in high-end drama production, including prime-time crime serials Silent Witness, Torn, The Little House and, most recently, the hit ITV show Innocent. In 2015 his audio book exclusive Six Degrees of Assassination was a number-one bestseller. His debut thriller, Eeny Meeny, was the UK’s bestselling crime debut of 2014 and has been followed by ten more DI Helen Grace thrillers – all Sunday Times bestsellers.
Lisa Hall is the bestselling author of six psychological thrillers and the Hotel Hollywood time-slip murder mystery series. Her debut novel Between You and Me was a Kindle UK number one bestseller, sitting in the top spot for over four weeks. Lisa has a First Class Honours degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. She lives in Kent with her husband and their three children.
This is the story of Fennel, the Fox who liked to think thoughts that were ‘outside the box.’
A heart-warming tale of determination and staying true to yourself. In the tranquil woods where whispers of adventure rustle through fragrant leaves, Fennel the Fox finds himself at a crossroads. Fennel yearns for something more fulfilling-a life rooted in love for nature and authenticity. When the weight of conformity bears down on him like a heavy cloak, Fennel bravely embraces the unknown and embarks on a journey to the bustling city, determined to discover how to harmonise his unique spirit with the world around him.
Genre: Children’s poetry / Children’s fiction ages 3 – 13
Pub: HB Publishing House
Pages: 40
But will he find acceptance in a place where foxes are expected to be sly, or will he teach the city to appreciate the beauty of thinking outside the box? Join Fennel on this heart-warming adventure that weaves themes of determination, self-acceptance, and friendship. Through the challenges he faces and the friends he discovers along the way, readers will be inspired to celebrate their individuality and the courage it takes to follow one’s true path.
With captivating illustrations and a touching narrative, ‘Outside the Box’ invites you to explore the transformational power of staying true to oneself and the magic that unfolds when we dare to deviate from the norm.
Let Fennel’s story remind you that sometimes the most extraordinary journeys begin when you step beyond the familiar!
My Review
Poor Fennel! He’s not like the other foxes. He wants to be friends with everyone and take things ‘at a leisurely pace.’ But the teacher tells him that he’ll ‘be destined to lose.’ He needs to be sneaky and sly.
He even loves the chickens and doesn’t want to harm them because ‘Chickens have feelings too…’
Eventually, he decides the countryside isn’t for him, so off he goes to the city. But every job he tries is a disaster. How can you cut hair when you can’t hold the scissors or drive a bus when you don’t know your right from your left.
Until…it was a revelation! He learnt how to cook vegetarian food and set up a cafe…
… called Outside the Box.
What a lovely book this is (not just because I’m also vegetarian) with Fennel as such a sweet character. The book is written in rhyme and the illustrations by Anyu Desyana are great fun. It’s perfect for children aged 3 to 9 to read by themselves, or be read to.
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Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of #OutsideTheBox #blogtour
WAS AN ASSASSIN’S ROLE AKIN TO A CEO’S ROLE? BOTH NEEDED SOME SUSPENSION OF MORALITY, A WILLINGNESS TO DO THINGS THAT MOST WOULD NOT, OR COULD NOT.
After retiring from active corporate life, sixty-year-old Ishmael Dollah keeps himself busy with regular runs around the city, tennis at the club and his book club meets. Life is good—a bit staid maybe, but good. That is until, one day, he hears of his beloved daughter-in-law’s rumoured affair. Suddenly Ishmael’s perfect world is turned upside down.
Never one to give in, Ishmael decides to take matters into his own hands. He’ll apply his sharp mind and ruthless boardroom tactics to plan not a hostile takeover, but a carefully orchestrated act of vengeance.
As he treads the fine line between right and wrong, blurring it to suit his needs, Ishmael realises he rather enjoys the process. Sixty Is the New Assassin is an intriguing blend of dark humour and suspense that will keep the reader hooked up to the very end.
My Review
This was hilarious! I loved every minute. I did guess a couple of things, but I think I was supposed to.
Sixty-year-old Ishmael Dollah is an asshole. Not my words – he calls himself that all the time. He’s a retired CEO, the ruthless type that takes companies and breaks them apart, leaving people jobless and desperate, but he doesn’t care. His wife Nysa is a kind, creative, beautiful woman. Why they are together is anyone’s guess.
They have one son whose wife is like a daughter to them. Then one day at a company ‘do’, Ishmael hears a rumour that she is having an affair and he decides to interfere. NEVER interfere in your grown-up children’s lives. It can only end in disaster. To make things worse, he doesn’t confide in Nysa, so she even imagines Ishmael is the one having an affair. He’s up to something, she can tell when he’s lying.
Now at this point, most people would talk to their son, or his wife, or suggest marriage guidance, or divorce or whatever. But not Ishmael. When he takes things into his own hands, we know it’s going to be murder. Because the book is called Sixty Is The New Assassin. I just loved it! Ishmael has no boundaries or moral compass, which makes it even funnier. I just may never use chopsticks again.
Many thanks to the author for inviting me to submit a review.
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About the Author
Shesh, or Venkatraman Sheshashayee, is a retired CEO living in Singapore. Armed with degrees in Marine Engineering and Management, he first sailed across half the known world and then built businesses across most of the rest of it. In his career spanning thirty-eight years, he built companies from scratch, transformed them and turned them around. Currently, he mentors nine start-ups and about twenty professionals. He is a director on three boards and advises two more.
He started writing in his teens. His articles have been published in trade publications (relating to the maritime and offshore energy industry) across the world.
Shesh is married to Singapore’s best home baker, Radhika (www.sinsationsbyradhika.com). They have two children, both of whom are in Singapore building a start-up in the physical fitness space.
When not mentoring or writing, he runs, plays tennis and reads. Though never at the same time.
+ feel-good, female friendship, fiction, friendship, love, marriage, mid-life crisis, relationships, review
The Friday Friendship Club by Anne Brooke
The lives of prime-time friends Leonora, Selena and Dorothea are about to take a very interesting turn.
Leonora discovers her husband is having an affair and struggles to come to terms with this crushing blow. Selena is about to meet the love of her life but is utterly unprepared for the heartbreak it might bring. Finally, Dorothea’s beloved career is under threat, but her job is the only way she can make sense of herself and she can’t see a future without it.
Can the three friends support each other through life’s challenges, and is there the slightest chance of a happy outcome for any of them?
Perfect for fans of Clare Pooley and Cathy Hopkins!
My Review
I have four friends that I meet on a regular basis (one of which is my sister-in-law) but they don’t know each other. We do lunch, dog walks, coffee and cake. I have never been part of a group in the same way that these three are, but maybe that’s because I have two sons and three granddaughters so it’s usually family first. I know quite a few people though who even go on holiday every year with their school or uni friends.
But I digress. Leonora, Selena and Dorothea have been friends for years and meet in Covent Garden at their favourite pub for wine and chit chat on a regular basis. They are all childless by choice. Leonora is married to Bob, who happens to be Dorothea’s brother. Their lives have always chugged along quite nicely, until Leonora’s devastating discovery. Bob is having an affair with that woman. It puts a strain on her relationship with her sister-in-law. Selena, on the other hand, is about to embark on a promising relationship but will it work out in the long term?
I have to admit that I found Leonora quite irritating (I’m not sure why – maybe it’s because she is not prepared to take any blame for their marital decline), and Dorothea is rather boring – she’s a civil servant – heaven forbid, but she does have a nice cat. But I ADORED Selena. I don’t know if I want her to be my friend or if I want to be her. I love her fashion sense and what she does for a living – she designs costumes for the theatre.
This is a lovely feel-good holiday read, but don’t expect anything too dramatic, apart from Leonora’s pot throwing fits (and we are not talking pottery wheels), and Dorothea’s mid-life crisis. No murders, no kidnappings, no bodies. It’s not that kind of book (my usual genre). So grab a cup of tea, put your feet up, and enjoy.
Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of #TheFridayFriendshipClub #blogtour
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About the Author
Anne Brooke is a multi-genre writer living in Surrey in the UK with a particular interest in gay and women’s fiction. Her fiction has been shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Prize (for novels set in London) and the Royal Literary Fund Scheme. She enjoys crosswords, gardening, swimming and the theatre, and would love to learn how to dance.
Her website can be found at: www.annebrooke.com. She can be found on social media as @annebrookebooks
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+ childhood, dementia, family, feel-good, fiction, friendship, grief, loss, love, marriage, neurodivergence, review
The Everyday and Far Away by Jacqueline Jones
For fans of Sally Page and Ruth Hogan, comes this heartwarming tale about love, loss and connection.
Ernie has had three grand passions in his long life: his dear wife Phyllis, a vintage Norton Dominator motorcycle, and his mini-me son, Stephen. Now, as dementia overwhelms Ernie and takes away everything he can remember about the everyday, memories of those far away times remain crystalline and cherished.
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His granddaughter Nina, seventeen, is equally at odds with the everyday. Excluded from college for her lack of concentration, it seems a job in her mother’s greengrocers is the best life can ever offer. Endless time stretches bleakly ahead, yet Nina feels she can barely make it to the end of each day.
Until, that is, Nina stumbles upon a surprise which, it turns out, can save both Ernie and herself…
My Review
I literally sobbed, reading this moving and emotional story. I have no real experience of dementia, so reading about it from Ernie’s first person point of view was devastating. As he descends gradually into the ‘far away’, and his ‘everyday’ becomes more remote, we live the experience through his eyes.
The ‘far away’ is when Ernie as a child is living in Liverpool with his mum and dad. He has friends and life is normal. Then his father dies and eventually his mum remarries Alf, a larger than life character who rides a motorbike he calls Liberty. Ernie is obsessed with the bike and Alf teaches him everything he needs to know. But when tragedy strikes the family, Alf takes Ernie to Bromley to start a fruit and veg stall, and it’s here that Ernie meets Phyllis, his wife-to-be, and they eventually have two children Stephen and Susan.
In the other timeline, we follow Ernie’s family in the here and now. Ernie is still married to Phyl, but it’s his granddaughter who is the focus of the story. Nina has ADHD and struggles to concentrate at college. Like with Ernie, we see it from Nina’s point of view and as the reader, we learn a lot. When she is asked to leave, she doesn’t know what to do with her life. She is lost. But when Ernie’s dementia means he has to go into a nursing home, she finds a project that will change her life forever.
At first it’s a bit of a slow burn and I didn’t get into it immediately, but as you get to know the characters, you start to fall in love with them (maybe not Susan so much), and the reveal towards the end is something I will never forget. I’m just glad I was at home when I was reading.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
About the Author
Jacqueline Jones lives in Guildford and The Everyday and Far Away is her first novel in this genre. As Jacqueline Sutherland she writes psychological suspense, and she is currently at work on a romance series under the name Pippa Nixon. She lost her father to dementia in 2019.
A bewitching novel about an enigmatic silent film actress, and the volatile love affair that left her a recluse for over half a century – for fans of Sarah Waters and Tracy Chevalier.
During the oppressive heat wave of 1976, a young journalist, Ed Peters, finds an Edwardian photograph in a junk shop in the Brighton Lanes. It shows an alluring dark-haired girl, an actress whose name was Leda Grey.
Leda Grey is living still, in a decaying clifftop house once shared with a man called Charles Beauvois, a director of early silent film. As Beauvois’ lover and his muse, Leda often starred in scenes where stage magic and trick photography were used to astonishing effect. But while playing a cursed Egyptian queen, the fantasies captured on celluloid were echoed in reality when Beauvois suspected a love affair between Leda and her leading man.
A horrific accident left Leda abandoned and alone for more than half a century – until Ed Peters finds her and hears the secrets of her past, resulting in a climax more haunting than any to be found in the silent films of Charles Beauvois.
My Review
The Fascination was one of my favourite books of 2023, and I’ve just been on the blog tour for Dangerous, so I had to read Essie Fox’s earlier novel The Last Days of Leda Grey. It’s very strange yet compelling and I was soon hooked.
It’s set during the summer heatwave of 1976, when journalist Ed Peters visits a shop in ‘Brightland’ where he encounters the elderly owner, Theo, and for some bizarre reason agrees to call on his sister Leda to check she’s OK. He’s no longer able to see her for health reasons. All Ed has seen is a photo of her when she was a young silent screen starlet.
But all is not well when he arrives at the house, which has no heating. electricity or running water. Leda is now very old and a total recluse. But she seems to trust Ed and is prepared to tell him about her life, her relationship with the controlling film director Charles Beauvois, and his obsessive jealousy of handsome leading man Ivor.
It’s all very Gothic and the lines between fact and fiction are often blurred. I found it very haunting and somewhat unnerving at times. I listened to it as an audiobook, which was a great way to absorb this spellbinding story.
About the Author
Essie Fox was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, and then book publishers George Allen & Unwin, before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design. Essie now spends her time writing historical Gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4’s TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian. She has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London.
Bafta and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Menno Meyjes’ first novel is the exhilarating and highly original Blood Axe.
Meet Alistair…
Alistair is a Norse-mythology obsessed, neurotic, well-read and deeply unpopular teenage boy. He lives in Staines with his bulimic older sister Belle and their depressive single mother, an Amazon worker and weekend protester of the third runway at Heathrow.
Alistair is in therapy. And he does not fit in with his classmates, ‘normal’ teenagers who bully him for being different. But when he is struggling, Alistair does not pray to God – Alistair prays to the Norse Ull, and in trying to summon him, he accidentally conjures up the formidable Eric Bloodaxe. Erik idiosyncratically adjusts to contemporary living while Alistair and Belle attempt to conceal his identity from their mother.
When Erik abruptly leaves Alistair’s house, Alistair tries to follow him by climbing through the rabbit hole in the base of the oak tree where he prays to Ull. Transported to the tenth century, Alistair meets Erik’s wife – the fearsome sorceress Gunhild and Alistair’s Norse adventures begin…
As we accompany Alistair to and from the tenth century – a world far removed from his suburban house, where Bake Off blares in the background – we also travel with him through the ups and downs of adolescence and his blossoming relationship with Madelon, a Dutch girl from history class.
Vivid and mesmerising, this extraordinary title from Bafta- and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Menno Meyjes is The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole in the universe of Marvel, by way of Bukowski and Nick Cave.
Many thanks to Grace Pilkington Publicity for this guest post.
About the Author
Menno Meyjes is the screenplay writer of The Colour Purple, which was Bafta- and Academy Award-nominated. He is also the winner of a Goya Award and gained global recognition for co-writing Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. More recently, he directed Max with John Cusack in 2022. He is now releasing his first novel Blood Axe as an e-book exclusive in May.
The Goddesses Artemis and Hebe are staying in Central London to obtain a better understanding of the lives of ‘normal’ people.
To their surprise, they soon encounter a plot to blow up a foreign embassy. Add to that a sophisticated operation involving the theft of valuable paintings from a major art gallery, and the two goddesses begin to question what a ‘normal’ life is all about.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld Cerberus encounters another dog who, amazingly, only has one head! How will they get on?
A mixture of Comedy, Fantasy and Criminality, Pimlico People should appeal to readers of Terry Pratchett and Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson).
ALL THE AUTHOR’S ROYALTIES WILL BE GIVEN TO SUPPORT CHARITIES FOR THE HOMELESS
My Review
I was always a fan of Greek Mythology, but this is not how I remember the gods and goddesses! They certainly never dressed up as cleaners to foil an art theft or stayed in posh hotels and travelled around London in a taxi driven by an old cockney with a horse called Bunnykins. Nor did they consort with little people from Lilliput (mixing our myths here) or go round saying ‘ey up’ and ‘Oggie Oggie Oggie’. But that is what Hebe and her sister Artemis have found themselves doing in order to blend in with us mere mortals.
I’m going to stick my neck out here when I say that it’s the underworld that was my favourite part by a chthonic mile. There’s dog Cerberus (woof) with his three heads and a snake’s tail called Audrey and no idea about anything, even though he’s head of ‘security.’ Then one day Charon the boatman brings the ghastly Marchioness and her dog Popsy (woofy), even though Popsy is still very much alive. Hades wants to send her back but Cerberus rather likes her. So does everyone else, so they need to hide her till Persephone returns from Olympus as she’s a dog lover.
Meanwhile, up above, it’s all Chaos (see what I did there), as Hebe and Artemis cause havoc wherever they go. Can they stop an attack on London, plus uncover the secrets of a sophisticated art fraud? With the help of lots of other gods, plus Sir Cedric, his wife Lady Felicity and nosy 10-year-old granddaughter Emily who talks to pelicans, it should all be plain sailing – in theory.
It’s all great fun and bizarre in a good way and I just love Cerberus and Popsy.
Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of the #PimlicoPeople #blogtour
About the Author
Rupert is a Cambridge graduate. He was born in Manchester but has lived most of his adult life in Central London. He has always been an avid reader and in recent years decided to take up writing himself. His books have one overriding objective which is TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH! His first book, Gods Galore, was published in November 2021 and this was followed by The Four Horsemen, in April 2023. His latest novel, Pimlico People, was published in October 2024. All three books are a mixture of fantasy and comedy about the Olympian Gods in the 21st Century.
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Jane Smith used to hate being average. With her mousy hair and watery brown eyes, she blends into the background, easily forgotten.
But that’s exactly what makes her a successful private investigator. While others stand out, Jane goes unnoticed, gathering valuable information along the way.
Her mother, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She’s the nosy busybody of the neighborhood and always wants Jane to investigate something. This time, it’s their new neighbors who have caught her attention. Despite numerous attempts to meet them, they seem to be hiding something. And according to her mother, anyone who rejects her invitations and welcome cookies has something to hide.
But when Jane investigates the suspicious death of a local man, she realizes the mysterious house next door may hold the answers she’s been searching for. Little does she know, the web she’s about to unravel will also reveal secrets of those closest to her.
With a blend of suspense, intrigue, and wit, this cozy mystery will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the shocking truth is revealed.
My Review
I loved this so much, but it’s totally bonkers. It starts off quite ordinary, and then it goes into the realms of the far-fetched. But who cares, it’s brilliant and hilarious, with our main character Jane and the situations she finds herself in.
Because Jane is our intrepid hero. She’s very forgettable, which means she can hide in plain sight and no-one recognises her or remembers her afterwards. Her mum Carole (also known as Gladys Kravitz, the nosy neighbour – I had no idea who that is), is also quite ordinary. Carole is obsessed with the new neighbours, she is convinced they are up to something illegal, so she tries to draw them out with cookies shaped like footballs, and invitations to dinner.
Jane is currently working for the wife of a man called Keith who was killed in a car accident, but his wife thinks he was murdered. She also believes he was having an affair with a colleague twenty years his junior.
In the meantime Jane meets Max at the convenience store, an old school classmate of her older brother Cam. They hated each other. Regardless, Jane invites Max to a football party at her mum’s house and it all kicks off – literally.
At this point it goes from the sublime to the ridiculous and I just couldn’t stop reading. It’s going to be part of a series with Jane as the main character and I’ll definitely be reading Book 2.
Many thanks to @Novel.Tours for inviting me to be part of this #blogtour.
About the Author
Marissa Malson is a marketer turned author. She is the owner of Just A Good Book Publishing, which provides editing, book marketing, cover design, and publication plans for fellow independent authors. The Not So Average Life of Average Jane is her first book. But it won’t be her last.
Follow Marissa on Instagram at @marissamalsonauthor to keep up with her latest releases!
+ child abduction, child abuse, crime fiction, Danish Noir, Denmark, fiction, journalist, police drama, review, Scandi noir, secrets
Out of the Dark by Heidi Amsinck (A Jensen Thriller #4)
Out of the Dark: A brand new Jensen thriller from Heidi Amsinck – a must read for 2025
A missing child … a tainted witness … Jensen’s darkest case yet …
Matilde Clausen, 9, vanishes from a crowded playground in the middle of Copenhagen, triggering a frantic search across the city. When a possible link emerges to the disappearance of Lea Høgh, 10, six years ago, DI Henrik Jungersen is thrown back into the nightmare that almost finished his career.
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Desperate for redemption, but barred from reopening the old case, Henrik turns to his estranged lover, Dagbladet chief crime reporter Jensen, for help. As the investigation reaches deep into Denmark’s underworld, how will Henrik, Jensen, and her troubled teenage apprentice Gustav, escape the darkness that threatens to engulf them, in time to solve the mystery? What really happened to Lea? And where on earth is Matilde?
My Review
This was definitely the best of the four books so far. It was so exciting that I flew through the last chapters to find out what happened before going to dinner in our hotel. Then afterwards I read the last part again, just to be clear.
We still have most of the characters from the first three books – Jensen’s boss at Dagbladet, editor-in-chief Margrethe Skov, her teenage nephew Gustav (who’s gone back to school now), agoraphobic hacker Fie, and of course married cop, and Jensen’s ex-lover Henrik Jungerson. I love Jensen more and more with each book, in spite of her flaws, but then she accepts them. Not so much Henrik, but I think the description of him makes him sound really unattractive. It’s once again set in Copenhagen.
It’s real seat of your pants stuff – going from Jensen to Henrik and back and forth. We also meet a fascinating lady called Bodil Le Cour, who’s 83 and lives in a block of flats where she claims to have seen a murder. Except no-one believes her including the police, they think she is getting doddery. Doddery she is definitely not. Jensen believes her, but little does she know how complicated it’s all going to turn out to be. And a race against time.
An afterthought. If Jensen ever got married (doubtful), would she keep her last name (probably) because Jensen IS her last name, or change it? Then she could change her first name to Jensen by deed poll. Not sure why this bothers me, but it does!
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
About the Author
Heidi Amsinck won the Danish Criminal Academy’s Debut Award for My Name is Jensen (2021), the first book in a new series featuring Copenhagen reporter sleuth Jensen and her motley crew of helpers. She published her second Jensen novel, The Girl in The Photo, in July 2022, with Back From the Dead out in February 2024. Out of The Dark is the fourth in the series.
A journalist by background, Heidi spent many years covering Britain for the Danish press, including a spell as London Correspondent for the broadsheet daily Jyllands-Posten. She has written numerous short stories for BBC Radio 4, such as the three-story sets Danish Noir, Copenhagen Confidential and Copenhagen Curios, all produced by Sweet Talk and featuring in her collection Last Train to Helsingør (2018). Heidi’s work has been translated from the original English into Danish, German and Czech.
Two baby kangaroos, one wacky inventor and a gigantic robot have a day at the zoo no one will ever forget!
Genre: Children’s Poetry
Pub: HB Publishing House
Pages: 40
With no Mummy or Daddy to teach them to hop,
the zoo’s baby joeys just wobble and flop.
Dr Try builds a robot to help them bounce high,
but when things all go wrong
will their bouncing dreams fly?
My Review
This book is hilarious, and like nothing I’ve ever read before. It’s all written in rhyme and the illustrations are a bit bonkers, but I mean that in a good way.
The poetry is clever and entertaining and I know children will love it – this is just the sort of wacky book that will appeal to my (somewhat wacky) nine-year-old granddaughter. I’m not sure if it’s aimed at slightly younger children, but it doesn’t really matter – they’ll love it anyway.
Poor Dr Try is ‘trying’ to help two joeys to sky-bounce without much success. So she builds a robot but unfortunately it just waddles and clangs and falls flat on its face. But the joeys don’t care, ‘You’re like us,’ they cheer,’You’re the best,’ and they love it! It’s called the Klangaroo.
This book is full of joy and fun and will become a firm favourite with children everywhere.
Book Links/Buy Links:
www.amazon.co.uk
www.goodreads.com
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Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of #Klangaroo #blogtour
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