An excellent selection  of new crime novels this week  from Joffe Books, ranging from a brand-new serial killer thriller to a somewhat addictive character-driven police procedural, so let’s take a look at :

The Skin Code by Stephen Willams.

Joffe’s book of the week is one of the most chilling new crime thrillers you’ll read this year from internationally bestselling author Stephen Williams — THE SKIN CODE is out now for just 99p | 99c.

Seasoned detective Mary Hume finds herself on the trail of a vicious serial killer who leaves a baffling code carved into the skin of his victims.  CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE?

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE SKIN CODE BY STEPHEN WILLIAMS FOR 99P | 99C.

I have a feeling you are going to be spoiled for choice. Take a look:

Killer on the Moors by Priscilla Masters   99p/99c

Missing nurse Marilyn Smith is dead. Spread-eagled on the bed, all dressed up for a date she didn’t keep. DI Joanna Piercy is convinced that Marilyn was murdered even though the post-mortem is inconclusive.  Joanna’s boss is breathing down her neck to close the case. She must catch a killer to keep her job.

Murder in Rome by Roy Lewis  £1.99/$3.99

Arnold Landon heads to Rome, ready to begin retraining for his own job. His first port of call? An ancient tomb.  Arnold treads the twisty path down to the burial chamber, expecting to find nothing but old bones. Instead, he stumbles on fresh blood and a much more recently dead body.

Can Arnold unravel the mystery before the ruthless killer strikes again?

Little Sister is the latest page-turning psychological thriller from bestselling master of suspense, Patricia MacDonald — available for pre-order now for £2.99 | $4.99.

Joffe Books Editorial Director Emma Grundy Haigh had this to say:

“LITTLE SISTER brims with all that makes Patricia MacDonald such a master of her craft: endearingly relatable characters, a brilliantly twisty plot and a taut undercurrent of tension that builds to a crescendo!”

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER LITTLE SISTER BY PATRICIA MACDONALD FOR £2.99 | $4.99. 

But that’s not all.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER DEVIL’S CHIMNEY BY ADAM LYNDON FOR 99P | 99C.

Devil’s Chimney is an utterly authentic new police procedural from debut author and serving police officer Adam Lyndon — available for pre-order now for just 99p | 99c.

Joffe Books Publishing Director Kate Lyall Grant told us::

“This intricately plotted crime thriller introduces an intriguing new detectiveprotagonist in DC Rutherford Barnes.  Good-looking and intensely ambitious, Barnes’ all-consuming desire for promotion leads him to make a decidedly dodgy decision — and plunges him into a nightmare which threatens his career, his marriage — and ultimately his life.

A serving police officer, Adam Lyndon’s 20-year career in CID and special investigations ensures this outstanding police procedural offers  a unique insight into the inner workings of a high-profile murder investigation.”

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER DEVIL’S CHIMNEY BY ADAM LYNDON FOR 99P | 99C.

For more information Joffe Books

This weekend we joined thousands others to line the Mall for Trooping the Colour. I have never done anything like this before & will probably never do so again.

I couldn’t help but reflect – there were after all hours of hanging around until the troops & cavalry arrived – on the similarities between our own Queen Elizabeth & the previous longest reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej the esteemed and beloved King of Thailand.

Whilst we were living in Thailind the King passed away. He was beloved by his people, the nation was devastated.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej came to the throne  when he was 18 years old and like our own Queen, was much revered by his people as he was their champion. He once said, ‘My place in this world is being among my people, the Thai people.’

He spearheaded projects to support the poor and bring the nation into the 21st century, audubg Thailand in becoming one of the more successful Asian nations whilst still maintaining it’s cultural heritage and spirit and navigating political and social crises with grace and diplomacy.

Queen Elizabeth pledged,’ I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.‘ And she has worked tirelessly since then for her people & served us for 70 years. She has been a known & stable for us all throughout our lives.

What I also find interesting about the 2 longest regaining monarchs is that neither was born into their roles but nevertheless destined to be so.

It was our Queen’s destiny after her uncle abdicated for his love of Mrs Simpson, so it was for King Bhumibol as he only became King after his brother died.

I am grateful we went to London to play a very small part in Her Majesty’s celebrations. It was an amazing experience. I hope it will be an experience my kids will never forget.

My son certainly went from a petulant teenager hiding in his coat as he processed the 4am start to flag-waving & smiling. My daughter loved all the pomp & pageantry. We chatted to the crowds, played Uno, cheered & waved & so worth the early start!

Thank you, Your Majesty for your 70 year’s of dedication & service.

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for the decade, not just in the UK but also in Thailand & Germany. Her mission is to help everyone discover their bliss within & to encourage them to embrace a practice of self-care.

If you would like more information on how to practice self-care message Alex at alex@alexbannard.com.

For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

Alternatively please check out her website: www.alexbannard.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

It was a nice day, so togo for a walk seemed like a good idea, particularly as I was stuck on a difficult chapter. I must write a difficult chapter many times if a walk brings us as  great a treat as The Kings Arms.

Yes, they could squeeze us in, walking boots and all. so there we sat at a table for two, while conversation buzzed all around. We barely looked at the menu for it would be the usual fabulouspub fare:  North Yorkshire pies too large for us but how could we not finish them, and chips too delicious to be left. But no or rather yes, because there was everything from sandwiches to pub food … Oh, crikey, there was also food more commonly guzzled in rather special restaurants.

It seems that  Alex Boynton and his father Raymond plus some of the family  re-opened The King’s Arms in 2006 as a new venture,  Both Alex and Raymond have extensive experience of hotels and restaurants, and importantly, in creating fantastic food.

Raymond after all, was in the hotel and restaurant business for more than 50 years, including owning, with his brother,  a successful country inn and restaurant. This is where Alex pitched into the hospitality business, and over the years developed his individual cuisine and hospitality which is now, thank heavens, offered at The Kings Arms.

I kid you not, Alex creates quite superb meals, and thankfully his interest is in producing not airey fairy little bits of Nouvelle Cuisine, though I admit it is all beautifully presented, but his aim is to put before you simple well cooked meals from excellent locally sourced produce, (not hard in North Yorkshire). If that is his intention, then my friends, my waistline says he succeeds.

Whatever your taste, be it meat, fish or vegetarian then walk, cycle or drive – just go, feast.   Gluten free, dairy free and vegan – no problem. During the winter season pheasant, venison and duck is on the menu.

Will the truth be buried with the dead?
When DS Joe Romano first meets Ana Dobrescu she’s nervous, in serious danger and clearly in need of help. The next time Romano sees her, she’s dead.
There was nothing more that could have been done, but that’s cold comfort for Romano. He’s determined to catch Ana’s killer. Although the prime suspect, her millionaire boyfriend, is in a coma.

With the help of his larger-than-life partner, Rita Scannon-Aktar, Romano begins to piece together a puzzle that places Ana at the centre of something much bigger than they could have imagined.

But while they’re hunting a murderer, those higher up are more concerned about the money. So it’s up to Romano to get justice for Ana. And whatever she knew, he’ll just have to pray that she didn’t take her secrets to the grave.

To the Grave is the second book in the DS Joe Romano series but the first one I have read. It is a strong book that can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series. Barlow brings to life a complex and gritty case for the dynamic duo. To the Grave possess a brilliantly written police procedure for the Yorkshire based detective. Full of determination and gut instinct Romano tries to solve this case. I loved this book, it is gripping and overflowing with action and suspense with a surprising twist that will leave you coming back for more.

I highly recommend for fans of T.M. Logan and Adam Croft.

Thirsk, as you may know from the Yorkshire Vet series is a ‘quaint’ Yorkshire Market Town. Well, indeed it is, but it is also quirky, or so I feel, which is probably why I absolutely adore it.

You see, amongst other things we have a shadowy organisation, no no, not a Mafia type of one, but a good hearted talented, group of about 100 women who beaver away with knitting and stuffing, then  come out at night, and yarn bomb the town, draping the bollards, post boxes, even hanging baskets with scenes appropriate to the date. Yes, out they come, tip toeing about, and there, and in the morning we see the town transformed.

I am showing you a very few of the bollard toppers, the post box toppers, and above, the wonderul tea party the Queen is having, and frankly, she has every right to rest her weary foot on the top tier of cakes as she surveys a small square a bit away from the main market place. Below you can see some of the bollard toppers around the market place.

You can see how the yarn bombers have excelled themselves for the  70th year of our Queen’s reign. And what a reign. I remember as a tiddler we all crammed into the village hall to see the Coronation on the black and white TV rented for the occasion, as heavens, to own a TV was beyond expectation.  Such excitedment, mixed with real grief on the death of King George 6th. I remember we wore black armbands. He had rallied the nation in the war, overcome his stutter, and not lived as long as he should.  I remember that Prince Charles looked away just as his mother was crowned.

Here is the Queen looking from her castle, perched on top of a post box,  and then we have the behind the scenes, as the Queen clings on, complete with her black bag and shoes, and a guard in case she unclings.

And yes, before our Frost Magazine readers ask: any donations are passed on to various good causes. For instance over £4000 has been given to the Herriot Hospice Project, yes, that Herriot, James as he called himself for his hugely successful books. He was Thirsk’s local vet and long time resident.

Latterly Thirsk Yarn Bombers have raised about £1.500 for Ukraine.

So thank you, Yarn Bombers for all the heart warming pleasure you give us and Frost Magazine hopes that you, and all its readers enjoy their Jubilee celebrations – we most certainly will in Thirsk.

Joffe Books excellent deal of the week is a box set of THREE completely absorbing crime mysteries from legendary author Elizabeth Gunn — THE DETECTIVE SARAH BURKE BOX SET is out now for just 99p | 99c.

Set in the simmering heat of Tucson, Arizona, and featuring a cast of beautifully realized characters, this box set of three gripping mysteries is PERFECT for fans of Melinda Leigh, Lisa Regan, Gregg Olsen, Rita Herron, or Sara Paretsky.

This does seem too good to miss, like so many of their offers,  this amazing three books offer has been described as “precision-tooled” by New York Times and as “ever-so-carefully plotted” by Kirkus.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE DETECTIVE SARAH BURKE BOX SET BY ELIZABETH GUNN FOR JUST 99P | 99C.                                                                                                                   

And Then You’re dead by Dan Latus   99p/99c

Former adviser to the Special Forces John Tait gets back to his peaceful Northumberland village after a business trip abroad. He’s looking forward to a quiet family dinner with his wife and son.

But the porch light is off. And the house is pitch black. Where are they? Then the phone rings. ‘You know who we are,’ a voice says, ‘and what we want.’ After ten years, the past is finally catching up with John Tait . . .

For the Love of Catherine by Carole Llewellin 99p/99c

14 A pril 1912.    The RMS Titanic is sinking. Chaos ensues.
The disaster will change Mair Parsons’ life for ever . . .

An interesting novel, read it. And now…

Recently I was sharing with a friend the juggling act that is being a single mum, running my own business & having an elderly mother who at that point was in hospital.

‘Oh,’ she said, ‘You’re the sandwich generation.’

I had no idea there was a term for this. But according to BBC worklife article (21^st Jan 2021) I am 1 of the 3% of the UK population providing care for more than one generation either in 1 home or across multiple homes.

That’s more than a million people caught in the middle supporting kids & parents physically, financially or emotionally, or all 3. That’s a lot of juggling & balancing different needs across different generations.

This is the result of many of us a)  having kids  later in life, b) these kids living at home for longer (52% of 18-29 year olds were still living with their parents in July 2020) & c) life expectancy increasing.

The demographics are different for the sandwich generation across the world. In the UK the sandwich generation is typically aged between 45-54, whereas in the Philippines aged 30-35. But across the world this responsibility tends to rest with women more than men.

It’s another layer to the existing layers that make up the onion of stress. If you factor in that in the UK women are generally going through their own challenges as their bodies & minds are changing during the menopause, it’s no wonder this additional strain can bring women to breaking point.

I certainly feel the additional pressure & once again self-care came to the rescue.

Whilst my yoga & meditation practice suffered because I didn’t feel inclined to get up at the crack of dawn to practice yoga & meditate even though I knew I needed it more than ever I chose, instead,  to take longer walks. Have dog, will walk so why not relish the grounding energy of being out in nature – trusting that this too was as beneficial as my formal practice.

I also chose to seek out company, spending time with people who really lit me up, making me feel joyful & supported. Women (more than men) produce oxytocin when we are in the company of others. I innately knew that I needed as much of that happy, feel good hormone to offset the additional hormones of stress that I could summon.

Whilst it has been a difficult few weeks as we adjust to the new dynamics it has without a doubt been a reminder on the importance of taking some time every day to nurture & nourish yourself – whatever that looks like. It doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive, or thought of as self-indulgent or selfish; it is , in fact, essential. And as I can attest it works: it was a challenging but we got through it with our mental health & sense of humour intact (something you need when supporting teenagers & the older generation!) & I know it was because I adjusted my self-care but continued to commit to it.

If you would like more information on how to practice self-care, message Alex at alex@alexbannard.com.

For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

Alternatively please check out her website: www.alexbannard.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for the decade, not just in the UK but also in Thailand & Germany. Her mission is to help everyone discover their bliss within & to encourage them to embrace a practice of self-care.

Joffe’s great  book of the week is MURDER BY THE SHORE, the unmissable, unputdownable, utterly addictive new crime thriller from bestselling author Gretta Mulrooney — out now for the special launch price of 99p | 99c.    Filled with page-turning suspense and twists and turns you’ll never see coming, this riveting new character-driven police procedural is PERFECT for fans of Joy Ellis, P.D. James, Tana French, and Ruth Rendell.

CLICK HERE TO BUY MURDER BY THE SHORE BY BESTSELLING AUTHOR GRETTA MULROONEY FOR 99P | 99C.

And now a couple of new releases which look really good.

The Farlington Marsh Murders by Pauline Rowson  Only 99p/99c

Risk-taking detective Andy Horton is at the funeral of ex-con Daryl Woodley, on the look-out for his murderer, a big-time crook. The next morning Horton is called out to another suspicious death. Horton recognizes the woman instantly. She was at Woodley’s funeral.   As tensions rise, Horton receives a chilling message. It looks like time is running out for our bold detective

Close to Home by Elizabeth Gunn £1.99/$3.99

Fourth of July, Tucson, Arizona.  With the drummers and clowns and mariachi band no one heard the fight. No one saw the man thrown into the window, his blood running down the cracked glass. Why would someone do this to a lonely old man?  As the evidence mounts up, Detective Sarah Burke starts to fear that the answers might lie disturbingly close to home . . .

COMING SOON

THE LOVE OF MY OTHER LIFE BY C.J. CONNELLY

Coming soon from Joffe Books, something slightly different . . .    From Canadian debut author C.J. Connelly, THE LOVE OF MY OTHER LIFE is an uplifting and unforgettable love story with an inspired twist.

C.J.’s editor, Joffe Books Publishing Director Kate Lyall Grant had this to say:   “For fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife, THE LOVE OF MY OTHER LIFE is the most achingly romantic love story with an intriguing twist. It’s a slow-burn romance that starts backwards, with our heroine Josie gradually getting to know and fall in love with a man she’s supposedly been married to for the past two years.   Eventually Josie is faced with a heart-breaking decision, and readers should keep a box of tissues ready for the emotionally powerful, bitter-sweet ending.”

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE LOVE OF MY OTHER LIFE BY C.J. CONNELLY FOR 99P | 99C.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH AN ANIMATED COVER REVEAL FOR THE LOVE OF MY OTHER LIFE.

Q&A WITH VICTORIA DOWD, AUTHOR OF A BOOK OF MURDER

Read a interview with Victoria Dowd, author of The Smart Women’s Crime Mystery series, on her latest enthralling murder mystery, A Book of Murder — out now for just 99p | 99c.      Find out the strangest things Victoria ever had to research for a novel, who would play her characters in a film adaptation, and more, in a fascinating Q&A, on Twitter or Facebook.

CLICK HERE TO BUY A BOOK OF MURDER BY VICTORIA DOWD FOR 99P | 99C.

JOY HITS THE CHARTS!

Such good news…   the forthcoming Detective Matt Ballard novel by Joy Ellis hit the UK Kindle bestseller charts this week, climbing as high as #40 yesterday.   Readers are clearly just as excited about the next Joy Ellis as we are, and we can’t wait to share her new novel with you on 16 June 2022!

You can also win an EXCLUSIVE signed copy of Beware the Past, the first book in Joy’s bestselling Detective Matt Ballard series.     To enter, simply comment on THIS FACEBOOK POST and let us know your favourite Joy Ellis novel!*

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER TRICK OF THE NIGHT BY #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR JOY ELLIS. 

Competition closes at 10.00 a.m. GMT on 16 June 2022.*This competition is available in the United Kingdom only.  *The winner will be contacted via Facebook message on 16 June 2022.   *Entrants must be aged 18 or over.   *This competition is in no way affiliated with Facebook   *Winners have five working days to claim their prize. If unclaimed, a new winner will be selected and contacted via email or Facebook message.*Competition prize consists of one signed book for three winners