What a treat: Joffe Books is proud and delighted to bring us their Book of the Week:THE NIGHT THIEF — the stunning new crime thriller by #1 bestselling author Joy Ellis.  Such good news for all crime readers.

This addictive new mystery is sure to have  all of you turning the pages late into the night until you reach the shocking conclusion… Nope, not telling you … but read on:  when everyone is sleeping, he comes into their houses. He takes one thing. A photo of their child.  A thief on a power trip or something even darker and more sinister?  Arghh.   No wonder Joy Ellis has sold over two million books globally. A snip at   99p / 99C

Now, on to see what else is on offer this week. A cornucopia, and here are two of them:

The Dead Hand of History by Sally Spencer. Two severed hands. One newly promoted detective with her hands full.   Monika Paniatowski can’t wait to land her first case as detective chief inspector. And, as it turns out, she won’t have to. On her first day, a woman’s severed hand is found in a leafy park.

Sally Spencer’s The Dead Hand of History: “Belongs in the same league with Rebus, Resnick, Harpur and Iles, Morse et al.” Booklist ONLY 99P / 99C

Now for a huge VALUE FOR MONEY box set: Paul Bennett’s Nick Shannon Thriller Box Set 1-5

Nick Shannon is a convicted killer   But don’t let that put you off. He had his reasons. And nope again – not going to tell you…

Joffe Books feels that this is just perfect for fans  of Mark Dawson, Frederick Forsyth, David Baldacci, J.B. Turner, Rob Sinclair, Lee Child, Vince Flynn and Robert Ludlum –  FIVE page-turners for only 99p/99c

TIME TO MEET ANOTHER OF THE jOFFE BOOKS TEAM: SASHA ALSBERG
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

WHAT I DO
My job revolves around book promotion/awareness on social media. I create content featuring our books through video and photo formats for TikTok and Instagram. Alongside this, I work with the marketing team to brainstorm and execute new ideas that can help drive Joffe Books’ online profile to new audiences and digital mediums.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022
I am so excited for all the incredible books we have coming up and the fun ideas I have to help make them bestsellers.

FAVOURITE BOOKS
My favorite book of all time is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It is a historical romance novel where a nurse named Claire (who is from the 1940s) accidentally touches standing stones that teleport her back in time to Scotland in the 1700s.

Also if you want a great thriller — Verity by Colleen Hoover is addictive! It’s about a ghostwriter who is hired to finish a series by an author who had a life-altering accident. But things take an unexpected turn when she discovers a grizzly confession within the pages of the writer’s notebook… I highly recommend.

To find out all that Joffe Books has to offer: Joffe Books

Nigel Denby (EJacobs Photography)

I am passionate about highlighting the peri-menopause & menopause cause, featuring movers & shakers in this field , ones who are impacting the 13 million women out there experiencing this huge life changing transition. This week I am delighted to introduce Nigel Denby, founder of Harley St at Home.

Nigel set up the Harley St at Home Facebook page at the beginning of the pandemic. This was a resource which I turned to a lot during my own menopause journey as it is jam-packed with useful advice .

Nigel is a Nutritionist & Dietician & has worked with women in their menopause & peri-menopause for the past 20 years.  HSAH works in conjunction with the  medical profession & not only advocates HRT for those who feel it’s right for them, but facilitates wellbeing experts who work alongside medical professionals to provide a fully rounded, grounded & sensible approach to menopause. So there we have it in a nutshell, but let’s chat to Nigel, the mover and shaker who is the instigator of all of this.

I asked Nigel what inspired him to set up Harley St at Home  and he explained: ‘M&P is a landscape in which women are let down on every level. We talk openly to teenage girls about preparing for puberty. But we don’t talk to women about menopause.’

Nigel feels that: ‘Most women find themselves contemplating menopause if they are hit with the typical symptoms such as hot flushes but there are more than 50 symptoms many women miss completely as they just don’t associate them with M&P. Sometimes when a woman does go to her GP to discuss the menopause we have become aware, from some who have contacted us ,that  the information given can be insufficient.’

I found this illuminating as I had already come to suspect my own mental health struggles might have  been  symptoms of peri-menopause.  But I was ignorant of the myriad symptoms at the time, so knew no better and  could not present my case; though I could now.

HSAH aims to  inform & support women in order to help their  understanding of  what is going on, keeping a track of symptoms as well as providing them with expert medical advice from menopause doctors.

But HSAH goes one step further – it offers women additional support from a team of experts in their field to help them create their own self-care toolkit to navigate this often life-changing transition. This is so important because it gives a woman the confidence to shape her next decades so that they can be wonderful. Without support & without creating their own self-care practices it can be wretched…but it doesn’t have to be.

Join me tomorrow to find out what is happening in the menopause.

For 20% off membership for life type in FROST20

To find out more about Nigel & Harley St at Home check out these websites.

IG: menopause_dietician

nigel@nigeldenby.co.uk

Facebook group: Harley St at Home : Menopause

www.harleystathome.com

If you would like to practice yoga with Alex her YouTube channel offers free short classes for everyone & is available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Alternatively all of her classes are streamed on live on Zoom, for more information message her at alex@alexbannard.com

Free resources are also available on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexBannardYogaMindfulness

And her website is www.alexbannard.com

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

I was very excited to review this book, both as a doctor, as someone who’s had breast cancer myself and as the author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows.

When I discovered that I was suffering from Breast Cancer, even as a doctor I felt bewildered and helpless. I learned the hard way – realizing always a little too late that I couldn’t necessarily rely on professionals, that I had to take control, that I needed to assert myself and that reluctantly I must become my own cancer expert. If only I’d known at the beginning what I know now.

Afterwards I was passionate to help others get ahead of the game at this crucial time and I receive regular messages from readers confirming that my book does just that.

So I’m thrilled that The Breast Cancer Book is another valuable and much-needed new resource.

Written by an oncologist, a breast surgeon and a lady who’s had breast cancer, the book has credentials. It covers all key topics for the reluctant entrant to Cancer Academy. The information is clear and succinct and you don’t need to read everything at once – you can dip in and out, focusing on what’s immediately important.

This book explains what cancer is, why we get it and your particular breast cancer type. It explains the medical investigations and their results and how your medical professionals will work with you. It discusses the various treatment options, their pros and cons – should you choose mastectomy for example (total breast removal with or without an implant or breast reconstruction) or simple removal of the lump (usually with radiotherapy)?

Importantly for US citizens, it explains the insurance system and what to do if you don’t have medical insurance. UK citizens reading this will appreciate the benefits of our NHS. It talks about if the cancer comes back or has already spread from the outset (Metastatic Breast Cancer). It advises on treatment side-effects and on alternative (complementary) therapy. It covers the emotional side of this life-changing diagnosis – support groups, impact on your family and relationships, how to help your children understand. It also summarises what we know about preventing cancer and reducing the risk of it returning.

Each chapter is just long enough, with summaries where helpful; there’s a useful medical glossary at the back and an index, so you to shoot straight to the answers you need. Occasional patients’ own stories provide added interest.

This book is written thoughtfully and empathetically and I would urge you to read it if you’ve received this frightening diagnosis. My book will help too, in a different way – choose which works best for you – there’s no right or wrong. Wishing you lots and lots of luck if you are going through breast cancer.

The Breast Cancer book is available from John Hopkins University Press and Amazon or Kindle.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

I like mustard and it seems for once I am a GOOD GIRL as a new study suggests that wholegrain mustard is good for you and that 10g – or a heaped teaspoon – eaten every day, can help to achieve a healthy blood glucose and/or cholesterol level.  The research, presented at the European Federation of Food Science and Technology (EFFoST), was carried out by Tracklements in association with Cardiff Metropolitan University.  The results show that 86% of participants in the study saw a significant drop in their blood glucose and/or cholesterol over a 12-week period

But hey. listen…  wholegrain mustard isn’t just good for you, it’s really nice and has been used throughout history with mentions in ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman texts.  The Romans, in fact,  introduced mustard into Britain. They felt it had medicinal qualities as well as making unappetising meat palatable and most travelled  with a pouch of mustard seed to plant, Once settled, they would grind the mustard seed, crushing and mixing it calling it Mustum Ardens, (Fiery Must) and that my friends is how we reach the word Mustard.

Sadly in the 18th century wholegrain mustard lost favour, and flavour no doubt,  as mustard flour took its place. That is, until Tracklements launched their first wholegrain mustard in 1970 and I for one, am glad they did. Tracklements wholegrain is similar to the Roman forerunners, 100% natural and if one keeps an eye on research likely to do you good too.

I have tried and tested it, ooh yes I have, and all I can says is the Oliver refrain, Please Sir, may I have some  more. It is robust, delicious, and if it does me good too, it makes me feel virtuous. This feeling is not  necessarily something one would equate with  Margaret Graham, so I bask in it.

Try it with practically anything, scrambled eggs, avodado, ham, in yoghurt, mayonnaise… You get it, give it a try.

For more information: Tracklements

@tracklements #tastytracklements #LifeandSoulofthePantry

As an ardent coffee drinker – best not disturb me before I’ve had my morning shot of caffeine, I was interested to hear about the concept of burning of  Coffee Logs in domestic wood burners and multi-fuel stoves. It seems to be an  a step towards the phase-out of coal and is also more sustainable than burning wood.  Not only do Coffee Logs burn 20% hotter than kiln dried wood, but they also avoid the hefty carbon footprint created by imported wood logs.

I have to admit that having ground my beans, slurped my  coffee, then put the used grounds in the bin, (as they are not suitable for compost I was told) it seems such a sensible idea to recycle them,  though there is not, as yet a collection point for domestic drinkers. Will there ever be, without creating a carbon footprint? That is for more knowledgeable minds to discover, not mine.

Coffee Logs are produced by recycling used coffee grounds collected from nationwide coffee chains, independent coffee shops, cafes and restaurants around the UK, reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.  The UK alone drinks 95 million cups of coffee a day, resulting in a quarter of a million tonnes of waste which would otherwise go to landfill or other inefficient disposal methods.  By recouping and recycling the coffee grounds into Coffee Logs, bio-bean generates 80% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to landfill.

The coffee logs are available to buy in a number of major outlets including Tesco, B&Q and Waitrose priced at £8.50 a bag.

You can read more about this thought provoking idea here: https://www.diy.com/departments/bio-bean-coffee-logs-8kg/5060599680002_BQ.prd

Book of the Week grandstands A BRUTAL SEASON by Judi Daykin, the third instalment in the DS Sara Hirst spine tingling series  Daykin’sJudi’s UNDER VIOLENT SKIES — book 1 in the DS Sara Hirst series — was longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award in 2021.

So best not to  miss the gripping new book in the award-nominated Detective Sara Hirst series.

It’s carnival week in Cromer.  The body of Daisy Shaw, the Carnival Queen, is discovered in a back alley, stretched out on the cobbles.  Her long blonde hair lies matted and dishevelled around her head, her fingers clutch a sparkly plastic tiara.  The atmosphere in Cromer soon grows nasty. The town turns against the outsiders. The roads are closed. The town descends into chaos

Can Sara solve the case before anyone else gets hurt? 99p/ 99C

We all like to receive invitations, but to Murder?

An invitation to Murder by Norman Russell, out this week.  99p/99c

The Baron of Renfield Hall wants to marry his daughter off to a rich American, but she is already in love with Alan, a penniless nobody — to the glee of Alan’s greedy uncle, Guy, who believes he’s uncovered a secret in Renfield’s past.  Tensions run high until Guy turns up dead. A convenient coincidence? Detectives French and Edwards are on the case.
Murder on Sea by Jane Adams. What a title, it attracted me immediately – it sounds fun, if murder can be.

Meet Rina Martin, a retired actress with a taste for tea, gardening and crime solving.
She played a TV sleuth for years, but now she has to do it for real.  99p/99c “Miss Marple fans will find a lot to like.” Publishers Weekly

Are you looking for a bit of nostalgia to sink your teeth into this weekend? Well this might do it for you.

This weekend Joffe are bringing you Paul D. Gilbert’s Sherlock Holmes mystery THE GIANT RAT OF SUMATRA for free. The book will be FREE from Friday 12 November till Monday 15 November.
Whether you’re a fan of the great consulting detective, or simply love exquisitely plotted historical mysteries, it might be an idea to grab your free copy of THE GIANT RAT OF SUMATRA before it’s too late.

Autumn 1898. London. A scandal in the making.  Dockworkers are stunned by the arrival of the Matilda Briggs, a long overdue tea cutter returning from Calcutta. The dust-covered vessel has been abandoned by its crew, and seems to have drifted into a vacant berth guided by an unseen hand.  Sherlock Holmes and his faithful Watson are called to divest the Matilda Briggs of its secrets, only to be warned off. Then a young man appears at 122B Baker Street with a mysterious packet from his missing father – who disappeared journeying to London from Calcutta. A confounding conspiracy seems set to boil over.  What was in the cargo besides innocent tea chests? And is the world finally ready for this tale to be told?

Please check this offer is live and available in your location before downloading.

And now for a peek behind the scenes at Joffe Books.   KATE LYALL GRANT:   PUBLISHING DIRECTOR  tells Frost Magazine about herself and her role.

WHAT I DO
Having joined Joffe Books on 8th November, I’m the newest member of the team.  My role is to spread the word amongst the literary agent and crime fiction community about all the exciting things we’re doing at Joffe, and to acquire brilliant new authors for the list, with particular emphasis on the American market, where we are actively looking to expand.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022
I’m looking forward to finding the next big thing in mystery fiction, and to acquiring at least one Kindle Top Ten bestselling author.

FAVOURITE BOOKS
Most recently, I’ve loved The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton: a subversive and highly ingenious take on the classic country house murder mystery; Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: a wonderfully atmospheric love story, coming-of-age novel and intriguing murder mystery all rolled into one; and Girl A by Abigail Dean: very dark but utterly gripping, with a surprising twist at the end.

Lots more goodies on Joffe Books here

“will delight audiences with its endearing characters”

To bill something as ‘a comic triumph’ on the flyer is, perhaps, setting yourself up for a fall. This comedy doesn’t fall, but it does stumble around quite a lot.

Two characters trapped together (almost – they could leave, but they don’t) unwittingly help each other in this predictable rom-com. Rose wants a baby but doesn’t want a man about the place. Adam is appalled by the idea of being tied down but needs somewhere to live… let the shenanigans commence!

Jacoba Williams and Derek Murphy play the unbelievably hapless couple who are completely mismatched but destined to fall in love. It is their amiability that keeps the play going, their chemistry that holds the interest.

The set – superbly designed by Humphrey Jaeger – is reminiscent of a farce, with three doors to have fun with. Sadly, they are not used for humour. So much of the script and the direction feels timid, as though holding back. Jokes are missed, action just slightly mis-timed. The whole production is off-kilter and lacks confidence, when there is obviously so much potential on show. Maybe a run is just what it needs, allowing the whole thing to find its feet and earn the self-labelled ‘triumph’.

Love Match highlights the difference between a laugh and a smile. I enjoyed this play. Everybody in the audience did. But I didn’t love it. And I so much wanted to.

A few glaring mistakes in it can be so easily rectified – for instance, is Adam meant to teach Rose the waltz incorrectly on purpose? [He’s not leading as he has her to believe, he’s actually in the woman’s hold…] Can he really play the guitar? Not on this evidence.

Once confidence grows, this production will delight audiences with its endearing characters and we may even forgive the bizarre driving scene…

Photography Molly Manning Walker

Performances until Saturday 27th November 2021   Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm

Saturday Matinee at 4pm

Location Chiswick Playhouse, 2 Bath Road, London W4 1LW    Nearest tube: Turnham Green (District and Piccadilly Lines)

Tickets Tickets are £22 (£19.50 for concessions)   Via the Box Office on 020 8995 6035

Or online at www.chiswickplayhouse.co.uk

Director Lesley Manning    Writer Andy Walker

Running Time 75 minutes (no interval)

Twitter @chiswickplay

The Crown and Anchor pub can best be described as built of brick, cosy and offering real ales, and well kept wines. But… more… it is here you will find classic pub grub, a restaurant where you’ll be spoiled for choice,  and all around, the friendliest atmosphere you could imagine.

Situated in Sowerby which is closely linked to Thirsk and known as Soreb in the Domesday Book, there is parking at the back, and outside tables front and back. Sowerby is indeed lucky to have landlords Kirsty and Miles to take over from the popular Tony, Debbie, Tim and Nadia.

Best of all, it was no outsider who moved  in , one with grandiose ideas to change this heart of the village into some urban fashionplate. Believe it or not, Miles  is not only Sowerby born and bred, he actually lived next door, and longed one day to take over the Crown and Anchor, and – readers – he and Kirsty did it .

The Crown and Anchor serves pub grub in the bar. I had a fabulous steak pie and the vegetables, which I admit to being picky about, were al dente, just right, not overcooked even by a second. There is a restaurant with an excellent menu – and both the bar and restaurant are open for lunch from Wednesday and in the evenings.

The restaurant also  hosts  private occasions. Just ask Milesand Kirsty and they will see what can be done.

There is a pool table in the semi partitioned bar, and we ate pub grub in one end,  I had  a good, and cool pino grigio and Dick an ale. As we ate we heard the dulcet commentary of a cricket match on the TV in the other bar and all around the murmur of a relaxed clientale – all very relaxing; the epitome of a village pub. As someone said as he was leaving. ‘I wish this was our local.’ Lucky lucky us because for us, it is.

Sowerby is a gorgeous village with the lines of Roman roads still visible in the fields to the east and north of the village along the Green Lane. It was called Soreb in the Domesday Book but Sowerby it became when the Normans landed in Britain. It means Farmstead by the Muddy Ground in Norse, which ,let’s face it with Cod Beck a stone’s throw, is pretty accurate as the fields do get a bit water logged.

Nearby, just down Blakey lane, and off to the right is Pudding Pie Hill, a barrow in which the remains of a Saxon warrior and two other skeletons were discovered along with cremated bones, various artefacts and coins.  And there’s also the ancient Packhorse Bridge, but… No.  Tell you what, just come, walk, look, and lunch at the Crown and Anchor, meet Miles, Kirsty and the rest of the village. You won’t regret it.

Ah, one more thing, James Herriot lived in Sowerby along Topcliffe Road. Herriot is of course the author of the hilarious but thought provoking and hugely bestselling series All Creatures Great and Small. Oh, and another thing: The Yorkshire Vets series has also introduced us to Julian Norton and Peter Wright who both live and work nearby.

How can you resist? Come, enjoy the Crown and Anchor, 138 Front Street Sowerby, Thirsk. YO7 1JN 01845 522448

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