Expat Amber

Murder By Natural Causes introduces us to Cilla, a 22-year-old contract killer who specialises in the dry job,  making murders appear as natural deaths. She is an unconventional anti-heroine, lacking beauty and physical strength, but armed with astute cleverness and tenacity. But Cilla knows her luck won't last forever, and she must find a way to reinvent herself before her past catches up with her. This intelligent thriller keeps readers engaged in her journey of self-preservation towards the normal life she so desperately craves. Do you remember going to raves and where you were when the Berlin Wall fell?  Cilla does, and it all conveniently coincides with her own small glimmer of hope. As a product of an experimental programme training child assassins behind the Iron Curtain, she had no need for emotions. This protagonist seemed more of a curiosity to me when I first started listening. She even taught me a little about the game of bridge, which I fondly remember my parents play

Yellowface is a satirical tapestry of dark humour and moral ambiguity, exploring ambition and the consequences that follow. Blurring the line between right and wrong, readers are compelled to question their own complicity. Brace yourself for a host of flawed characters and the devastating aftermath when dreams turn into chilling reality. This horrifying story of loneliness delves into the human psyche and the relentless pursuit of recognition in the unforgiving world of publishing. My final thoughts? I'll give you three-ish words... Caustic. Creepy AF. Contentious. This read was an emotional journey for me and will definitely be a huge hit with book clubs. I can’t stress enough how much I love that the author is purposefully doing exactly what we all hate so much – writing about the experience of someone outside of prescribed cultural boundaries. Bravo. Read my thread of rants here. "Reading should be an enjoyable experience, not a chore." I really liked it and gave it f

Liner begins in the late spring of 1962 and David's life is in ruins. Seeking to escape, he secures a one-way ticket on the opulent Oceanis, intending to make a dramatic and final exit during the Atlantic crossing. However, everything changes when he meets Diana. As their connection grows so do the peculiar occurrences aboard the ship, distorting the very fabric of reality itself. Together, they attempt to understand the ominous forces that threaten the safety of everyone on board. Everybody has seen the movie Titanic, right? This story is also about an unlikely budding romance on a luxury liner but that's where the similarities end. With a dash of horror and eco-thriller, it's definitely not the ending you'd expect. Ladies and gentlemen. This is your reviewer speaking. Prepare yourselves for an unusual phenomenon. In the beginning, I thought about booking a cruise. Midway through this read, I had to put it down to catch my breath. With every twist and turn, I found my

Mr Hammond and the Poetic Apprentice begins in the summer of 1814. Thomas Hammond, an apothecary surgeon near London, dreams of his son Edward becoming a great surgeon. However, his apprentice John Keats, an orphan, is seen as a daydreamer and a disappointment. Despite their differences, Thomas begins to appreciate John's compassionate approach to patients. But just as John is about to qualify as a surgeon, he unexpectedly abandons medicine for poetry. Thomas is devastated and must confront his own mistakes. Can he learn valuable lessons from John before it's too late? If you were forced to study British literature at all, you know Keats. But have you ever wondered what his life was like before he trained at Guy's Hospital? This book is beautifully written and delivered so much more than I was expecting. At a time when consumption reigned, apothecaries could do nothing more than simply ease the symptoms of illness. A marvellous example of historical fiction, little facts a