THE ONLY WAY OUT IS DEATH Book Review

Info

Written By: Varun Gwanlani.

Published By: Saga Fiction.

A free e-copy of the book was very kindly supplied for the purpose of this review.

Thank you to Write Reads Blog Tour for adding me to the tour.

---

---

Overview

Twelve powerful people are kidnapped and imprisoned in an empty hotel.

Each of them has three choices:

Live out the rest of their days peacefully in the hotel,

Die by suicide so the rest of their companions can go free,

Or murder one of their companions so they alone can go free.

The Only Way Out is Death follows the story of these twelve people from the perspective of a young lawyer, Kiriaki, told as the events unfold. She has to forge uneasy alliances, navigate complex relationships and feuds, and, above all, try to stay alive.

Beware of the mastermind of this death game, who is lurking just out of view, watching them closely, making sure they are primed for murder. Place your bets on who will survive, if you dare.

Overview taken from the official description on the Amazon store page.

---

Review

One way to describe this book is to think of the reality TV Big Brother but with the threat of death or even murder mixed in and that will give you the main body of the book, a group of different people who have never previously met and they need to figure a way out of the hotel they are now kept captive but it looks as though the only way out is death be that murder or even suicide, time is running out.

Twelve powerful people have been hand picked and imprisoned within the once luxurious hotel which now takes on a more sinister feel, the twelve get to know each other and as the story progresses you begin to make your own mind up on who is who in the overall pecking order.

It’s quite obvious from the outset that the story takes inspiration from films in the horror genre with some similarities to films such as the Saw franchise but this really isn’t a bad thing as Varun Gwanlani takes the inspiration and runs with it allowing him to create his own sinister world that pulls you deep within it’s horrific pages.

I liked how the characters all had a familiar feel to them that allowed the reader to relate better to them and invest in the dark story. You can’t help but lose yourself within the twists and turns that will keep you questioning and guessing as it passes from page to page with a furious pace.

---

Summary

Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the pace of the book the darkness of the story intrigued me enough to keep me glued to the pages. This is the perfect type of horror for me as is more of a psychological horror rather than a gorey stomach turner, definitely more of a thinker rather than a jump scarer. I loved the pick of the characters and thought the individual personalities worked well together. A definite recommendation from me.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOOD

I give The Only Way Out is Death a good score of 4 ⭐, a good psychological horror that will have you thinking throughout. A gripping page turner that has you shouting into the pages. Definitely recommend picking this up.

Note on the author

Varun Gwalani is the author of six novels: Believe, The First Storyteller, The Story Circle, The Novel Year, Who Saves the Hero? and The Only Way Out is Death. Each book is a different genre, with his latest book “The Only Way Out is Death” being a murder mystery thriller.
In addition to being an author, Varun has been a teacher of creative writing and English for several years now. He’s an advocate for mental health awareness, having given a TEDx talk and written several articles on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Varun also loves reading, board games and video games, and he can often be find blending these interests by playing a visual novel. He would also like to tell you about the thing he hates the most: writing in third-person.

Lastly thanks to Write Reads Blog Tour for adding me to this tour and be sure to check out others on the tour.

30 DAYS OF DARKNESS Book Review

Info

Written By: Jenny Lund Madsen – Translated by Megan E Turney

Published By: Orenda Books.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review, also thanks to Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to the tour.

---

---

Overview

A snobbish Danish literary author is challenged to write a crime novel in thirty days, travelling to a small village in Iceland for inspiration, and then a body appears … an atmospheric, darkly funny, twisty debut thriller, first in an addictive new series.

Overview taken from the official description on the publisher’s website.

---

Review

When a book as stunning as this appears you just have to explore it and when I say it’s stunning it really is. First it was indeed the cover that hooked me in as the dark surrounding landscape engulfs the house in the centre of the picture which is then accentuated with the bold orange lettering dramatically introducing you to Thirty Days of Darkness and you can’t talk about the cover with mentioning the beautiful sprayed page edges in an eye catching orange with typewriter markings across the front, a beautiful touch.

The story of the book first made me think of a film I have seen recently called Blank where a writer is sent away to come up with her next book. Thirty Days of Darkness takes the story and runs with it creating a far better story than I experienced in the film, Hannah creates a challenge with Jørg, the best selling crime writer, to write a crime novel within a 30 day time window which might sound relatively straightforward to most crime writers however Hannah isn’t a crime writer and this is definitely out of her comfort zone of normal writing but her distaste for Jørg is greater and the need to show she can do it definitely the driving force.

With her agent more than happy to jump on this incredible PR hype train plans are rapidly put into place, Hannah needs to get herself away from the usual humdrum that is draining her creativity she needs to be somewhere that will give her the creativity she needs to enable her to write the best crime novel anyone has ever seen. An idyllic village in Iceland, Húsafjörður is the perfect backdrop for this to happen with the locals friendly enough and the agent’s contacts coming through offering lodgings and a warm welcome. Ella will be Hannah’s host and is more than welcoming albeit slightly strange with also the language barrier causing some frustration from the off, but she is accommodating and that is exactly what Hannah needs right now.

What at first glance seems like an pretty normal Icelandic village making Hannah think of just throwing in the towel and heading home as the story is just never going to come, however the darkness soon descends as a body of a young man, Thor – nephew of Hannah’s host Ella – the crime story soon becomes a reality and Hannah finds herself unravelling what at first glance seemed like an accident which is getting more and more darker the deeper she goes, perfect material for the book.

Jenny Lund Madsen writes in a way that captivates you from the very first page, it was almost as though the book was stuck to my hands I just couldn’t put it down. The thrilling twists and turns of the book draws you deep into the book and the many questions over who done it and why fly around your head as you try to make sense of the mysterious backdrop of this story. Initially I was a little unsure when I found out that the book was a translation as I assumed it would be difficult to follow but I couldn’t have been more wrong, the story flowed naturally throughout the pages and engulfed me into the world that Jenny has created, a bomb could’ve gone off and I wouldn’t have cared I just needed to finish this book

---

Summary

Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the book and I would say alot more than I initially thought I would. I have always enjoyed crime novels but they’ve never been my first port of call, if the name Jenny Lund Madsen is on them they definitely will be now. If you like dark and edgy crime with a varied range of emotions then most definitely pick this book up – one of the best I’ve read so far this year.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give Thirty Days of Darkness an excellent full marks score of 5 ⭐, a thrilling rollercoaster ride with a dark intensity that never falters. Would definitely recommend you pick this up pronto.

Thirty Days of Darkness is available now wherever good books are sold.

Note on the author

Jenny Lund Madsen is one of Denmark’s most acclaimed scriptwriters (including the
international hits Rita and Follow the Money) and is known as an advocate for better
representation for sexual and ethnic minorities in Danish TV and film. She recently made
her debut as a playwright with the critically acclaimed Audition (Aarhus Teater) and her
debut literary thriller, Thirty Days of Darkness, first in an addictive new series, won the
Harald Mogensen Prize for Best Danish Crime Novel of the year and was shortlisted for
the coveted Glass Key Award. She lives in Denmark with her young family.

This review is part of the Random Things Blog Tour so please check out the other bloggers on this tour and thank you to Random Things Blog Tours for including me on this tour.

LAST TESTAMENT IN BOLOGNA Book Review

Info

Written By: Tom Benjamin.

Published By: Constable.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review and for Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to the tour.

---

---

Overview

Last Testament in Bologna is the fourth in Tom Benjamin’s critically-acclaimed Bologna-set series featuring British private detective Daniel Leicester.

When an old man makes a bequest to investigate the mysterious death of his son, English detective Daniel Leicester follows a trail to one of Bologna’s wealthiest families – makers of some of the world’s most coveted supercars – and discovers that beneath the glamour of the Formula One circuit lurk sinister interests that may be prepared to kill to keep their secrets.

Overview taken from the official book press release.

---

Review

Families inevitably disagree on most things but when it comes down to reading the last will and testament the darkest of shadows appear from the closet. Last Testament in Bologna is like delving deep into an oil painting of one of the most beautiful countries this planet has to offer, Tom Benjamin not only lays the foundations he takes you deep within this shady world and makes you feel like you’re deep in the pages.

The story is a continuation of the detective series that follows Daniel Leicester of Faidate Investigations, this time he is tasked to delve deep into one of Bologna’s wealthiest families and as he does so begins to unravel a dark conspiracy that is set to rock Bologna to its very core.

When I first heard about the book I was intrigued to see that the story would be set within the world of F1, being an F1 fan I thought that the story would involve more of the F1 behind the scenes and even delve a little deeper into the murky underworld but really the F1 theme serves as more of a glamorous backdrop and the story builds it’s own gritty path within that.

I liked the characters and personalities that came through as we discover those that benefitted from Giorgio Chiesa’s will and the issues this will cause. Reading deeper into the book the writing allows the characters to individually grow and each working well together to enhance the storytelling. You definitely don’t need to be a fan of F1 to enjoy this book it kind of skirts around the theme with the emphasis more on the unraveling of hidden skeletons in closets.

I liked the style of writing of Tom Benjamin an intense style that kind of encapsulates you and keeps you locked in throughout, this being my introduction to the series as a whole even though I hadn’t read the previous books I still felt like I could follow the story and enjoy the story but the inquisitive nature I have would mean that I will most probably hunt down the other books in the series.

---

Summary

Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t what I was initially expecting however I did enjoy the intricate twists and turns with many dark secrets exposed for certain sending rumbles throughout Bologna. A definite recommendation from me.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOOD

I give Last Testament in Bologna a good score of 4⭐, a good overall read that had a natural progression throughout building to the intriguing end. This was my introduction to Tom Benjamin as a writer and the Daniel Leicester series but I can honestly say I’m impressed so far and looking forward to seeing more.

Last Testament in Bologna is available now where ever you get your books from

This is book 5 in the series.

Note on the author

Tom Benjamin grew up in the suburbs of north London and began his working life as a journalist before becoming a spokesman for Scotland Yard. He later moved into public health, where he led drugs awareness programme FRANK. He now lives in Bologna.

This was my stop on the Random Things Blog Tour, please don’t forget to check out the other bloggers on the tour

DEATH OF A UNION Book Review

Info

Written By: Andrew Wood.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review.

---

---

Overview

“Death of a Union” is a gripping geopolitical thriller set against the tumultuous backdrop of the UK’s infamous 1984 miners’ strike. George McDonald is a union leader, on the verge of exposing staggering corruption within Arthur Scargill’s National Union of Miners, where millions have vanished. However, sinister forces, including a shadowy KGB agent and fellow union leaders, conspire against him, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.

Fast forward four decades and Scotland is on the verge of becoming an independent nation under dynamic new leadership, transforming the SNP from a joke into a powerhouse of positive change. But this new direction leads Scotland into uncharted territory, forming unconventional alliances, particularly with China. These alliances draw the ire of Whitehall and Washington, triggering alarms on both sides of the Atlantic.

As the political landscape intensifies, MI5 reopens the Pandora’s box of George McDonald’s corruption case. The echoes of the past resonate in the present, thrusting Scotland’s First Minister into a web of intrigue and peril. Amidst political maneuvering, covert operations, and the weight of untold secrets, “Death of a Union” becomes a riveting tale of power, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

Overview taken from the official book press release.

---

Review

Being an 80’s child I vaguely remember the miners strikes however being born in 81 I was a little young to remember it fully and the area I loved wasn’t reliant on the mining industry, however growing up I have since learnt the impact that the mining strikes had on not only the mining industry but the whole countries infrastructure as a whole.

The well documented stand off between two determined leaders, Margaret Thatcher and Arthur Scargill, very nearly brought the country to it’s knees. I have always been under the impression that Arthur Scargill was a saviour of the working man however having read this book my opinion of this man has changed in a dramatic way.

The unique way in how this book is written creates two almost separate story arcs that eventually entwine together forming one of the most gripping books I’ve read in a good while.

The book follows the lives of George McDonald and Maggie McGowan both have an agenda to right the wrongs of previous corrupt leaders and fighting for the working man, George looks at investigating the blatant corruption of the upper leaders of the Union and the mysterious disappearance of millions in donations no matter how dangerous this path may be.

Maggie McGowan is the widow of billionaire businesman Robbie Gordon having made a fortune building an iconic brand of Scottish Whisky. Before his death it was Robbie’s wish to run for office with his sights set on the main job of SNP leader and first minister of Scotland, having past before this could be achieved Maggie decides to take this path on in the memory of her husband and change Scotland for the better.

Having risen from the picket line to the offices of the Union George is firmly on his mission to get to the top seat and have the opportunity to change the lives of those fighting on the picket lines which is why he joined the Union in the first place not knowing that essentially it’s a rich boys play ground where at any opportunity the lives of those at the top are made more and more comfortable while those on the pickets are struggling to even put food on their families tables.

The sudden influx of flash cars and suits accompanied with luxury holidays gives George a suspicion that not all is what it seems in the offices of the Union and makes it his life’s work to rid the Union of all it’s corruption but to take on the suits is a very dangerous game to play tha could well have deadly consequences.

The book itself does jump between the different timelines of the two main characters but it never feels disjointed and the two storylines run in parallel with each other with a very big twist at the end that makes the drive of both characters make sense.

I loved the way Andrew Wood took the time to build the characters up so you got to know the background to each that in turn made the entire story make sense. I genuinely couldn’t put this down and just had to read more. Well written from start to finish with a story from an iconic moment in modern times.

---

Summary

Time now then for me to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I would say that Death of A Union was one of if not the best book I have read in recent times, once I begun the book I couldn’t put it down the reality of the story gave a unique rawness to the writing had me gripped to each page.

The desperate emotion of the workers and their families hit hard and the corruption from those that were supposed to be fighting for them appalled, the book gave me everything and more.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give Death of a Union an excellent score of 5 ⭐, an incredible read that I couldn’t put down. It gave me everything I could have wanted from a book, gripping and emotional a definite eye opener.

Death of a Union is available now where all good books are sold.

This review was my part of a book tour please also check out the other bloggers on the tour.

Note on the author:

Born in Oxford, England, to Scottish parents, Andrew Wood’s journey has been as diverse as his accomplishments. From a chain of several hundred karate schools in Southern California to the founder of a golf marketing agency in Florida. Most recently he launched a worldwide horse training portal. Author of over 50 books in various genres, including sales, marketing, leadership, creativity, travel, and personal development. His fiction weaves a captivating tale that reflects his dynamic life experiences including travel to over seventy countries. He has homes in Crystal River, Florida, and Sandwich, Kent, where he enjoys playing golf at Prince’s. For more information on Andrew Wood and his works, visit his website

WILD TREASURES Book Review

Info

Written By: Hannah Stitfall.

Published By: Gaia / Octopus Books.

Thanks to the publisher and Random Things Blog Tour for sending me a physical copy of the book.

---

Overview

Hannah Stitfall is a TV presenter and zoologist, who regularly gets up in the early hours of the morning to try and catch sight of some of Cornwall’s best hidden wildlife. She will spend hours on end waiting for a creature to appear among a hedgerow, scurrying across Cornwall’s open fields or taking flight across its towering cliffs and sandy beaches. In these brief, magical moments, Hannah is able to see and capture animal behaviour that the general public rarely get to witness.

In this book, Hannah shares her incredible stories, beautiful photographs and often funny meetings with Cornwall’s wildlife through the course of a year. From brown hares boxing in the grass in the spring, watching an otter cub hunt in the wetlands in winter, to witnessing the unique bioluminescence of a glow-worm in the summer, Wild Treasures is a remarkable diary, informative guide and joyous celebration of our nation’s wonderful creatures.

Overview taken from the official book press release.

---

Review

I’m a big fan of the country and enjoy watching the wildlife programs on TV and various videos on TikTok and YouTube, the natural world is breathtaking at times and you can sometimes forget the beauty we have on our doorstep. One of my favourite presenters / content creators on this subject is Hannah Stitfall as she seems down to earth and more relatable than some you may have come across previously, some of the videos she posts online are stunning to say the least and when I found out that she was releasing a book on her wildlife adventures I just had to get involved in the tour to get a glimpse of what Hannah goes through to get that perfect shot.

The book itself is a month by month diary that takes you on an inspirational journey through the seasons. Being a dog owner myself (a springer called Mickey) I enjoyed the tales of the adventures that Hannah and her dog Isabelle have as I can imagine myself and my furry friend enjoying similar escapades. The book goes into detail what the lengths Hannah goes through to get the perfect shot, sitting in the hedgerows for hours on end in the hope that she can capture the amazing shots we see online.

The way Hannah describes the wonderful countryside that engulfs her home of Cornwall you know that she loves where she lives and appreciates the beauty that surrounds her.

The words Hannah uses to describe her adventures within the book captivate and take the reader on an almost magical journey allowing you to travel the countryside of Cornwall from the comfort of your sofa (with a nice brew)

This was a step back from what I would normally have gone for but with the subject matter being of interest it was a book that did capture my interest and from opening the cover I just knew that this would be a book that I would struggle to put down.

---

Summary

Time now then for me to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I really enjoyed the book I felt it was a relaxing read throughout and naturally flowed all the way through, you can tell that Hannah loves what she does as her enthusiasm bursts of each page and you can’t help but be inspired by her writing, it certainly has me wanting to explore more of the area I live. This is the perfect book to read on a nice sunny day in the garden enjoying a nice brew and listening to the bird song.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give Wild Treasures an excellent top marks of 5⭐ an enthusiastic look at the life of a wildlife photographer from someone who lives and breathes what she does. This book will definitely inspire you to get out and appreciate what is around you. A definite recommendation from me.

Wild Treasures is available now where all good books are sold.

A note on the author

Hannah Stitfall is a wildlife presenter and zoologist.

She’s presented on The One Show, BBC Earth and Radio 4, and she’s a regular digital presenter on the Winterwatch and Springwatch social channels.

Hannah also leads her own seasonal wildlife watching safaris in Cornwall which routinely sell out.

Many thanks to Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to this tour, be sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour.

TIME MARKED WARLOCK Book Review

Info

Written By: Shami Stovall.

Available: June 2024.

Thanks to Write Reads Blog Tour for arranging a free e-copy of the book for me for the purpose of this review.

---

---

Overview

Adair Finch is the most powerful warlock in the world, and one of the best private investigators for hire. He has dealt with corporate vampires, murderous werewolves, and even fae royalty. Everything was perfect until he lost one case—the case where he also lost his brother.

So Finch retired. From magic. From PI work. From everything.

Bree Blackstone, a twelve-year-old witch, doesn’t know or care about any of that except Finch’s reputation. In the middle of the night, she bangs on Finch’s door. Her mother has been murdered, and now the assassin is after Bree as well.

Reluctantly, Finch agrees to help, only to discover something sinister has been brewing in town while he ignored the world… He’ll need to dust off all his old skills and magic before it’s too late.

Overview taken from the official book press release.

---

Review

I didn’t really know what to expect when I came across this book but the cover intrigued me enough to make me want to delve into it and I’m pleased that I did. I got the impression it would be a fantasy or sci-fi type of story as that is the vibe the cover gave me but the story was completely different to what I expected, it does have the fantasy element to it but it is alot more grittier than I expected and that took me off guard but in the best way possible.

You start the story with the legendary warlock Adair Finch who has retired from the warlock game and in all essence more or less retired from life as he wallows in his own self pity in a mountain of takeaway boxes and dirty washing, life just isn’t the same anymore and that is eating away at Finch to the very core.

Abruptly a mysterious but frantic knock at the door introduces Bree to the story a young witch, yet to discover her potential, frantically seeking the help of the legendary warlock that her mother always spoke of. Her mother has been brutally killed and her father has disappeared and Adair Finch is the only person that can help her find answers and more importantly her father.

The story is a bit like the film Groundhog Day but far more grittier, as Adair Finch has the power to rewind time which when you are investigating a murder can definitely come in rather handy. Adair’s power can only go back to the point where he marked and the time reverses back to that point so unfortunately for Bree the time Adair marked was after her mother’s death so time cannot go past that point.

As the story progresses Adair is able to put the pieces together of this strange mystery being able to rewind time but as each day begins again another part of the mystery comes to light and it becomes more and more entwined.

This book was an introduction to Shami Stovall as an author and can safely say she is definitely on my list of authors to watch, the writing of the book flows perfectly well allowing the characters to develop and organically grow, the fast paced nature of the story captivates from the start and keeps you enthralled for the duration.

I found the characters relatable along with the story content which allowed me to engage with the story alot quicker than I originally thought I would.

---

Summary

Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall the book surprised me but in the best way although I knew that I was getting a fantasy adventure the grittiness appealed to me more. I’d love to see more of Adair Finch and definitely want to see more Shami’s work, would definitely recommend picking this up.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give Time Marked Warlock and excellent top marks score of 5 ⭐ a gritty thrill ride that will captivate you from start to finish. Shami Stovall is definitely one to watch.

Note on the author

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:

Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/

Thanks again to Write Reads Blog Tour for including me on the tour for this and make sure to check out the other bloggers on the tour

THE UNOFFICIAL SEGA SATURN COLLECTION Review

Info

Written By: David Cameron.

Published By: One Up Gaming.

Available Now.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review.

---

---

Overview

“The Unofficial Sega Saturn Collection” is more than just a coffee table book; it’s a celebration of an era-defining console and the unforgettable experiences it brought to millions of players around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned Saturn aficionado or a newcomer to its world, this book offers a comprehensive tribute to Sega’s iconic gaming masterpiece. So sit back, flip through the pages, and rediscover the magic of the Sega Saturn.

Overview taken from the official book description on the Amazon store page.

---

Review

I love being able to revisit the gaming memories of yesterday, all the images that trigger core memories from my childhood. I’ve been a gamer since the Sega Megadrive and been lucky enough to experience most of the consoles right up to the modern next gen machines but although I love the cinematic games we see now I still have a fondness for the machines that made me a gamer. One of which was the iconic Sega Saturn which at the time of release was one of the most powerful machines out there putting it against the likes of Playstation One and Nintendo 64 – years before Microsoft came on the scene.

Having fell in love with Sega in my Megadrive days it was really just a natural choice to stick with the brand I knew to take me into what I thought then was the next gen of gaming. Titles such as Sega Rally and Mech Warrior 2 took me in along with the sports games that I loved to play taking hours upon hours of my childhood and created the gaming monster I am today.

Thanks to David Cameron we now have the luxury of stepping back into the history of this iconic console with a detailed step through the games that were available for us to play. A well put together coffee table style book, in the style of the old style gaming magazines us gamers used to enjoy, with a luxurious matt finish cover sporting the iconic Saturn branding using the black colour of the console as a background and the blue and sliver colour of the famous logo to create a cover that just pops and really gives the best impression for what is to come throughout the book.

I found the book a pleasurable read with each game represented by a screenshot of the gameplay and a brief written description of each game alongside some details of the console and additional add ons such as controllers and memory cards your eyes will be glued to the pages within.

I personally sat mouth open in awe throughout the whole book with each page giving me more and more of that nostalgia memory and took me straight back to my childhood making me want to relive those moments once again, to a point that I am considering purchasing a Saturn again just to play through the games again.

---

Summary

Time now then for me to put my thoughts into a summary, overall the book blew me away each page was like transporting back in time really giving me the nostalgia pangs. Having this on your coffee table or in your gaming room will definitely trigger some conversations it’s definitely a book that needs to be seen. A well put together book written by a passionate gamer you can tell this was a labour of love which gives this book an authentic feel.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give The Unofficial Sega Saturn Collection an excellent top marks score of 5 ⭐ an excellent celebration of games from an iconic system from the best gaming generation, if you’re a gamer of that certain age you’ll definitely need this in your life.

Grab your copy from Amazon now

See my unboxing of the book on my TikTok page

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE Book Review

Info

Written By: Peter Brown and Steven Gaines.

Published By: Monoray / Octopus Books.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review and for Random Things Tours for adding me to the blog tour.

---

---

Overview

All You Need is Love is a ground-breaking oral history of the Beatles and how it all came
to an end. Based on never-before-published or heard interviews with Paul McCartney,
Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and their families, friends, and business
associates, this is a landmark book, containing stunning new revelations, about the
biggest band the world has ever seen.

In 1980-1981 former COO of Apple Corp, Peter Brown and author Steven Gaines
interviewed everyone in the Beatles’ inner circle and included a small portion of the
transcripts in their international bestselling book The Love You Make, which spent four
months on the New York Times bestseller list. But left in their archives was a treasure
trove of unique and candid interviews that they chose not to publish, until now. A powerful
work assembled through honest, intimate, sometimes contradictory and always
fascinating testimony, All You Need is Love is a one-of-a-kind insight into the final days,
weeks, months and years of the Beatles phenomenon.

Overview taken from the official book press release.

---

Review

Being a Beatles fan I was quite looking forward to getting into this book as I’ve often wondered what exactly happened at the end of The Beatles, I’ve heard countless stories over the years but this book is really from the horses mouth with real life accounts from the people within the inner circle of the fab five.

The book is written in an interview style in a manuscript form so you read it as if you are actually present whilst the interviews are taking place which gives the book a more authentic feel, giving the reader a unique opportunity to step inside the inner circle of one of the most famous bands of all time.

I always had the impression that The Beatles were big mates and all got on but really what we were seeing wasn’t telling the full story as towards the end the cracks were beginning to become caverns between the 5 mainly so between Paul and John who really were the driving forces of the band and where most of the creativity came from and this breakdown of friendship would take it’s toll on the band.

As you read through the book and the many truthful accounts you begin to understand the reasons the hysteria had to end, infighting, differences of opinion and differences of direction.

This book is definitely going to be a conversation starter within the fan base as people will again begin to discuss the revelations found within the pages, the book isn’t designed to shock and it didn’t seem to me that Peter Brown and Steven Gaines had set out to tarnish the band’s reputation and legacy it is more a chance to put the record straight and tell the other side of the story that isn’t glamourised for the press.

---

Summary

Time now then to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I enjoyed the book it was an interesting read that certainly raised my eyebrows on a few occasions. I’m glad it wasn’t a smear campaign as it easily could’ve been, this is a frank and honest account from the people that knew the band the most. If you are a fan of The Beatles this is a definite as the authors do their very best at setting the record straight.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOOD

I give All You Need Is Love a good score of 4 ⭐ a must read for The Beatles fans and open and honest account from the people closest to the band, be prepared to have your eyebrows raised.

All You Need Is Love is available 11th April 2024 from wherever good books are sold.

A Note on The Authors

STEVEN GAINES is the New York Times bestselling author of Philistines at the Hedgerow:
Passion and Property in the Hamptons and The Love You Make: An Insiders Story of the
Beatles (with Peter Brown). His journalism has appeared in Vanity Fair, the New York
Times, and New York magazine, where he was a contributing editor for 12 years. Mr.
Gaines is the co-founder and a past vice-chairman of the Hamptons International Film
Festival. He has lived in Wainscott, a small hamlet on the East End of Long Island, for 40
years.

PETER BROWN is the former COO of Apple Corp, the Beatles’ financial empire. He’s been
a Beatles intimate since their earliest days in Liverpool. Their passports were locked in his
desk drawer. He was best man at John and Yoko’s wedding, he introduced Paul to Linda
Eastman, and perhaps the most charming of his credentials is that he’s the only real
person ever mentioned in a Beatles song, “Peter Brown called to say, you can make it
okay, you can marry in Gibraltar near Spain,” from the “Ballad of John and Yoko.” Mr.
Brown is now chairman of the international public relations firm of Brown Lloyd James
LTD

Thanks to Random Things Tours for adding me to the blog tour, be sure to check out other reviews on the tour

WHITECHAPEL: AUTUMN OF ERROR Book Review

Info

Written By: Ian Porter.

Published By: Matador.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review and for Random Things Tours for adding me to the blog tour.

---

---

Overview

Whitechapel 1888; a killer is on the loose and the newspapers are ensuring the nation knows all about not just the crimes but the terrible living conditions in which they are being perpetrated.

Nashey, a tough, scary yet charismatic man of the night, whose mother had to prostitute herself when he was a boy, knows the identity of the killer but keeps it a secret. He believes the publicity generated by the murders is forcing the authorities to address the poverty and degradation in the area. He allows the killer to remain free (whilst ensuring no more women are attacked) so the unsolved murders continue to dominate the headlines. He meets Sookey, an eccentric middle-class slummer and civilising influence. The two of them share a mutual friend, Mary Kelly, a fiery young prostitute whose back-story tells of how she was reduced to such a life.

To fund his surveillance of the killer, Nashey agrees, against his better judgement, to assist an old adversary to commit a daring night robbery under the noses of the huge police presence in the area.

Is it too late for Nashey and Mary to correct their mistakes?

Overview taken from the official book press release.

---

Review

We’ve all by now probably heard the story of Jack The Ripper and his hideous crimes that rocked 18th Century London, but we haven’t had an insight into the life of 18th Century London and the struggles that the people went through all at the same time of one of the spree of one of Britain’s worst murderers.

The other main characters in the story is Sookey and  Mary two fiery women trying to find their way through the hard streets in slightly different ways. Sookey a middle class woman looking at making what difference she can but is finding out that living in the gritty neighborhood of Whitechapel is harder than life should be. The link between these two is Mary, a woman of the streets much like many women of that era unfortunately the life of the streets is a greater pull than earning money the honest way which could well be minimal at best.

The story centres around a small nucleus of characters but the main focus is on Nashey, Sookey and Mary, Nashey is a battle toughened rogue that was born on the streets and lives his life on the streets making his way through the world the only way he knows how that’s through his mind and fists, his fists are his greatest weapon partner that with his expert criminal minds and you have the catalyst for a ruffian on these streets. But Nashey is a bit different for he has a heart and he wears it on his sleeve.

The story flows well and Ian Porter does a great job of painting a gritty scene that captures the readers mind and takes them deep into the streets of Whitechapel, the descriptive detail makes you almost feel the grime on the pages. The story takes a twist when Nashey witnesses an attack on a lady of the night by a strange mysterious figure, could this figure turn out to be The Ripper himself? Nashey makes it his life’s work to hunt for the truth leading him into pulling off one more job to help fund his search. Nashey will need to knock on a few doors and if needed knock a few heads, these questions need to be answered and fast.

The story is a path of discovery, of love and loss in an historically accurate story that will educate you in a way you probably have never been before, I’ve always been a fan of criminal history but this version of the Jack The Ripper story is probably one of the best I’ve read.

---

Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EXCELLENT

I give Whitechapel Autumn of Error an excellent score of 5 ⭐ a very detailed, historically accurate journey into a dark world that you will find familiar but the story is told from a fresh angle. Will leave you with a new found interest in the Jack The Ripper story, I for one want to know more.

Whitechapel Autumn of Error is available now wherever good books are sold.

A note on the author

Ian Porter is a historian, lecturer, public speaker and walks guide.
He has a particular interest in women’s history and social history.
His novels are renowned for being extremely well researched and historically accurate.

Whitechapel Autumn of Error is a typically feminist, social history novel that brings the dark streets of the East End 1888 to life.
He has written several other novels including the highly acclaimed Suffragette Autumn Women’s Spring, set during the fight for the vote for women, and a Plague On Both Your Houses, set in both London & Berlin in 1918/19 during the final months of the Great War and the Spanish Flu.

Ian is getting on a bit (well, aged 69). His grandparents were young adults living in East London at the time of the Whitechapel Murders. 

This review is part of the Random Things Book Tour be sure to check out the others on the tour

HONOUR AMONG SPIES Book Review

Info

Written By: Merle Nygate.

Published By: No Exit Press.

Released: 11 April 2024.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of the book for the purpose of this review and thanks to Random Things Tours for adding me to the blog tour.

---

---

Overview

At the heart of London’s spy operations, Mossad head of station Eli carries the scars of a past disaster while grappling with the turbulent political landscape back home. His resolve to uphold his duty and keep his job is tested like never before.

Desperate to tip the scales in the espionage game, Eli concocts a risky plan involving tampered drones destined for Russian hands. But to execute this plan, he has to exploit those closest to him. Eli’s moral compass clashes with the mission, leading him down a treacherous path of betrayal.

As the stakes escalate, Eli finds himself embroiled in a deadly web, racing to foil an apocalyptic agenda. With the clock ticking, alliances are tested, sacrifices are made, and Eli must confront the consequence of his actions head-on.

Eli and his team must navigate a shadowy underworld to prevent a terrorist plot from unleashing chaos on a global scale. Will they emerge victorious, or will the darkness consume them all?

---

Review

Diving into a good spy thriller is always a good thing so I was looking forward to this one in the hope of a full throttle thrill ride. The story I got was a little different to what I expected, it wasn’t the usual “gung ho” over the top action page turner this story is far deeper than you would’ve expected.

The book seems to show another side of a story that we have heard so many times before and for that I found it refreshing. Usually we have the proud Brits taking the fight to some dark force which is normally of a Russian or other descent, but we see Eli heading up the London branch of the top secret group Mossad which is righting the wrongs of their homeland of the Far East of Muslim origin against an increasingly difficult modern political backdrop.

For me personally I found it particularly refreshing to see a story told from another angle, still good Vs evil but just told in a different way and at the same time highlighting some of the struggles that you don’t normally see.

The story flowed naturally with the beginning building the foundations and setting the tension that supplies the hook for the reader and as you progress through the book the story builds pace as tension bubbles to boiling point as lines begin to blur as Eli and his team try to get justice by any means necessary which doesn’t always involve using the most ethical actions.

Using those close to get the in roads needed to get to the end goal, whether it causes hurt or not the main goal for Eli is to complete the mission as the job begins to take over his life, who he has to betray to get to that goal just becomes collateral damage, or is that really the case as we begin to see the cracks show in this strong character. Going up against the Russians could well be something he could live to regret, desperation can make the mind do irrational things.

Overall the story of Honor Among Spies takes you on a journey through a dark political landscape that shines light on a different fight that is happening everyday, it has emotion, it has betrayal all mixed together with a page turning tension.

I felt Merle Nygate carries on building her strong base of characters within this series that allows the story to grow at a pace that allows the reader to engage in the world of the story and become entwined with the overall story. Overall it wasn’t what I expected but I’m definitely glad I experienced it a book I enjoyed, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Eli.

---

Verdict

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOOD

I give Honor Among Spies a good score of 4 ⭐, good character building allows the story to build at a natural pace and brings the reader into the full body of the story. I would definitely recommend this book for those that love a good story of tension within the pages.

Honor Among Spies is available 11th April 2024 wherever good books are sold.

A note on the author

Merle Nygate is a screenwriter, script editor, screenwriting lecturer and novelist; she’s worked on BAFTA winning TV, New York Festival audio drama and written original sitcoms; previously she worked for BBC Comedy Commissioning as well as writing and script editing across multiple genres.

Most recently, Merle completed her first espionage novel which won the Little Brown/UEA Crime Fiction Award. It was described by the judge as ‘outstanding’.

This review will be part of the Random Things Blog Tour, be sure to check out the others on the blog tour