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Crow Moon by Suzie Aspley#Extract #Giveaway #AMarthaStrangewaysInvestigationBook1

  I am delighted to introduce the first in a new series by debut writer, Suzie Aspley . The atmospheric thriller, Crow Moon was published by Orenda on March 14th. Today I have an extract for you to read and the chance to win a print copy of Crow Moon . Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed… Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back... When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows. As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes

Death in the Stars by Frances Brody **Blog Tour

I thoroughly enjoyed Frances Brody's Death at the Seaside so I am delighted to take part in the celebrations for her novel, Death in the Stars. It is the ninth in the Kate Shackleton mystery series.
 

Yorkshire, 1927. Eclipse fever grips the nation, and when beloved theatre star Selina Fellini approaches trusted sleuth Kate Shackleton to accompany her to a viewing party at Giggleswick School Chapel, Kate suspects an ulterior motive.

During the eclipse, Selina's friend and co-star Billy Moffatt disappears and is later found dead in the chapel grounds. Kate can't help but dig deeper and soon learns that two other members of the theatre troupe died in similarly mysterious circumstances in the past year. With the help of Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden, Kate sets about investigating the deaths - and whether there is a murderer in the company.

When Selina's elusive husband Jarrod, injured in the war and subject to violent mood swings, comes back on the scene, Kate begins to imagine something far deadlier at play, and wonders just who will be next to pay the ultimate price for fame . . .

My Thoughts

It was good to meet up with Kate Shackleton, Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden for what turned out to be an intriguing crime mystery. Set in 1927, it includes the eclipse of that year and started off at Giggleswick in Yorkshire which hosted a viewing of the phenomenon. I am particularly impressed with the pacing and plotting of the story as the momentum never flags as the clues begin to unfold. There are several red herrings and possible suspects as to who could be the murderer and the ending is a great finale to the book.

    The suspects are all larger than life characters and the theatrical flavour adds spice to the proceedings. I find that the 1920's lends itself to this genre of crime mystery and Frances Brody captures the feel of the times. It is obvious that she has thoroughly researched all the events which are mentioned and the settings. I was particularly fascinated to read about this in her acknowledgements section and to find out that there have long been rumours of tunnels beneath Leeds. As for the recipe for the Eclipse Cocktail- very tempting!

In short: great crime mystery writing with lots of period detail.


About the Author

  Frances Brody is the author of the Kate Shackleton mysteries, as well as many stories and plays for BBC Radio, scripts for television and four sagas, one of which won the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award. Her stage plays have been toured by several theatre companies and produced at Manchester Library Theatre, the Gate and Nottingham Playhouse, and Jehad was nominated for a Time Out Award. 

You can connect with the author at her website here 
or on Twitter here.


Thanks to the publishers, Piatkus Books, for a copy of the book and a place on the Blog Tour. 


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