Book Review: Murder: The Biography by Kate Morgan

“Whether in fact or fiction, murder can be all things to all people. At a basic level, it is a tale of good versus evil, where the roles of victim and villain are clearly laid out before us. More often than not, there is an element of mystery at its heart, a puzzle to be solved.”

Set to be released on 29th April, Murder: The Biography by Kate Morgan is a non-fiction book that follows the stories and the people involved in the history of murder. From a cannibalized cabin boy whose death at the hands of his hungry crewmates led the Victorian courts to outlaw a defence of necessity to murder, an incompetent GP whose violent disregard for his patient changed the law on manslaughter, to the last woman hanged in England in the 1950s who played a crucial role in changes to the law around provocation in murder cases, and a deranged Scottish aristocrat whose fratricidal frenzy paved the way for the defence of diminished responsibility. These, and many more, are the people – victims, killers, lawyers and judges, who unwittingly shaped the history of that most grisly and storied of laws.

Book Review: The Shadow In The Glass by J.J.A. Harwood

“I’d like to propose a bargain. I will offer you seven wishes. Whatever you ask for, I shall grant you. There are few limits.”

Set to be released on 18th March, The Shadow In The Glass by J.J.A. Harwood is a dark fairy tale set against a Victorian backdrop that follows housemaid Eleanor, who is forced to work hard under the unforgiving, lecherous gaze of the man she once called stepfather. Her only refuge is in the books she reads by candlelight, secreted away in the library she isn’t permitted to enter. One night, among her beloved books of far-off lands, Ella’s wishes are answered. At the stroke of midnight, a fairy godmother makes her an offer that will change her life: seven wishes, hers to make as she pleases. But each wish comes at a price, and Ella must decide whether it’s one she’s willing to pay it.

Book Review: The Castaways by Lucy Clarke

“A secret beach. A holiday of a lifetime. Wish you were here? Think again…”

Set to be released on 1st March, The Castaways by Lucy Clarke follows sisters Lori and Erin who about to take a trip to a luxury resort in Fuji. But after an argument the night before, Lori ends up boarding the plane alone. Two years later, Erin is desperate to find out what happened to her sister after the plane failed to reach its destination and the aircraft and passengers still haven’t been found. Erin has had no luck with her research and the police have long since given up. But when the pilot of the plane is admitted to a hospital in Fuji after a fall and it is discovered that he’s been living under an alias this whole time, it’s time for Erin to get some answers.