Book Reviews: Reviews of The New Blood panel at The Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing festival Harrogate 17th - 19th July 2015

Just over a fornight to go till Theakston's Crime Writing Festival... can't wait! Each year Val McDermid hosts the New Blood panel at Theakston's Old Peculier crime writing festival.  Each year I am amazed by both the range and the talent of the new writer's on her panel  and this year is no exception.  I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the four books by debut authors, Renee Knight, Clare Mackintosh, Ben McPherson and Lucy Ribchester.  Read on for my reviews.

Disclaimer by Renee Knight 
Catherine Ravenscroft has for many years kept a dark secret from the people she holds most dear, then she picks up a book in her home with the disclaimer crossed out. When she reads it she soon realises the book is about her and her past.  With fear gripping her she soon discovers that she is in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the author of the book who appears to wish to completely demolish her life.  Scary, thrilling and completely believable this is a fantastic psychological thriller that will hook you from beginning to end. 

Available on Amazon Kindle £6.65, HB £7
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Disclaimer-Ren%C3%A9e-Knight/dp/0857522817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434897886&sr=8-1&keywords=Disclaimer+by+Renee+Knight

    I Let You go by Clare Mackintosh

When a small boy is killed by a hit and run driver DI Ray Stevens and DC Kate Evans pull out all the stops to find the driver.  However their investigation takes them to the darkest recesses of the human heart.  This is a story about grief, fear and tenacity.  It has some fantastic twists that take it to a new dimension.  It is at once thrilling and haunting.  Another great read from a debut author.
Available on Amazon Kindle£3.66 PB £3.85
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-You-Go-Clare-Mackintosh-ebook/dp/B00LTUC5VC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434897716&sr=8-1&keywords=i+let+you+go+clare+mackintosh+kindle+book
A Line Of Blood by Ben McPherson

When Alex mercer and his eleven year old son Max discover their neighbour electrocuted, seemingly by suicide, in his bath a chain of events are put in place if only Max and his wife Millicent can pick up on the clues.  This is a chilling take on infidelity, parenting and morals.  It left me feeling uneasily aware of the fragility of the things we hold dear in our lives and too often take for granted.  A very skilled psychological thriller by a debut author.
Available on Amazon Kindle £6.99 , HB £10.39
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Line-Blood-Ben-McPherson-ebook/dp/B00N7348CS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434897579&sr=8-1&keywords=a+line+of+blood+ben+mcpherson

The Hourglass Factory by Lucy Ribchester
Set in the backdrop of London in 1912 with the suffragette movement in the limelight. When Frankie George a struggling Fleet Street journalist is sent by her editor to interview the mysterious suffragette and trapeze artist Ebony Diamond ,  she is flung into the bizarre world of circus acts, corsetiers and suffragettes as well as suddenly following Ebony into the chilling underworld of a murderer who has no boundaries. The beauty of this book is it's rich and diverse characters, the authors sleight of hand in describing them and their settings with an acute awareness of their motivations and the sheer laugh out loud moments that sneak up and slap you in the face. I loved this book on so many different levels.  A real joy to read and a great tribute to he suffragette movement.
Available on Amazon kindle for £4.99, HB £16.63, PB £3.49
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hourglass-Factory-Lucy-Ribchester-ebook/dp/B00K8WYP6U/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1434897414&sr=8-1&keywords=the+hourglass+factory