The Drowned Village by Kathleen McGurl

Interesting and well written McGurl weaves a tantilising story. A village is ‘drowned’ to make way for a new reservoir but is it also drowning a secret that could destroy Stella Walker’s family? Years later Stella persuads her grand daughter to return in her place to solve the past.

Reginal Hill that superb author of the Dalzial and Pascoe mysteries wrote about a similar situation, and Kathleen McGurl, though not on Hill’s level – partly because of Hill’s fabulous humour, writes a cracking mystery. As I said, interesting.

The Drowned Billage by Kathleen McGurl pub by HQ £7.99 eBook/Audio

The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham is sufficiently taut to hold our interest, and keep us turning the pages, and staying awake when we have to get up bright and early in the morning. Belsham doesn’t spare us in the descriptions of the crime as we read the actions and thoughts of the psychopath  (if indeed he/she is a psychopath, but is it a he or she? We don’t know because that part is written in the first person). The plot: tattoo artist Marni Mullins discovers a flayed body, and the newly promoted DI Francis Sullivan needs her help, needs someone who knows the tattoo world, but Marni doesn’t trust the police. Why not? Well, read it and see, but whatever the reason if she manages to identify the killer will she trust Sullivan or pursue the predator herself?

It’s taut, intriguing and all that a thriller should be.

The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham. Pub Trapeze pb £7.99 audio and eBook.

One Way S.J. Morden

A thriller or a sci-fi novel? Or both?

Think the Dirty Dozen: all criminals, all with a focus because success will bring freedom for the survivors. But with One Way there is no freedom on offer for these criminals if the mission is successful because it’s to Mars, and that is where they will live, for ever. And must trust one another in order to survive, let alone build the first Mars base

However having been recruited, and arrived, it becomes apparent that one of them is a murderer, and …

No, no more. Chilling, innovative, and well imagined. Keep turning those pages.

Of course, it should be well imagined. Dr S.J. Morden is a bona fide rocket scientist with degrees in Geology and Planetary Geophysics.

One Way S.J. Morden pub Gollanz pb £7.99

Well if you are having a party, you may want to decorate the room – so it is good to know that Bubblegum Balloons, created by three women in Farnborough, take balloons and confetti to a new level.

They design big, bold, beautiful, attention-grabbing balloons and decorations for any celebration and have some novel ideas such as using balloons as Christmas crackers. The collections include greeting cards, garlands, ribbon backdrops and chair backs, plus children’s party packs. Take a look at the Instagram link for more of their products.

For a comprehensive selection of gifts, Prezzybox.com covers a wide price range.  For small, inexpensive gifts, I particularly liked the Slam ‘scooting dog’ eraser and the Popsockets collapsible phone grip/stand and, in their gourmet range, you should try JoeSeph’s chilli chocolate caramel popcorn – an alliteration of delight.

And, is it too soon to think about Christmas? Or too hot? Well maybe, but I have to let you into an exciting secret. It is 40 years since The Snowman was originally published as a picture book (I know – where have all the years gone?) and Michael Morpurgo has created a new story, inspired by the original tale by Raymond Briggs. Penguin Ventures intend to make a splash (or a flurry of snow), so watch out for celebratory family events, starting in October in Brighton and working through to a finale on 23^rd December at the Royal Albert Hall.

And yes, it soon will be Christmas, so, ignoring the recent high temperatures outside, here’s a little teaser-  a novelty Christmas tree bauble from Flying Tiger to get you in the mood.

Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

Amazon.co.uk              Amazon.com             Faito Books

If you are looking for a great supplier of beauty products, try Jica Beauty. They sell fabulous high quality products and I had the pleasure of testing a few.

Like many women, I am keen to have a flawless but natural looking browline, and Divaderme Brow Extender was perfect. Easy to apply and a very natural finish.

Nail Magic hardener and conditioner, and their cuticle oil are absolute luxury, and don’t we feel good with nice nails, girls? As a ballroom dancer, I use a lot of nail varnish to match my dresses- so sometimes my nails get dry. Nail Magic is an expert in restoring nails to health and mine looked so good afterwards, even without any varnish.

Finally – skin, skin and skin. Try Algologie redensifying and plumping cream, followed by their marine serum and night mask – I woke up looking like a twenty year old after using it (then I wiped the steam off the bathroom mirror) … but seriously, my skin felt so much better, I can really recommend these lovely products.

I’ve reviewed them before- but I need to remind you again – the wonderful essential oil-based Scentered essential oil products. Pamper yourself – you won’t regret it. These will help your mood and your sleep and distress you – go for it.

Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.com      Faito Books

In this season of Village Fetes and celebrations I have a mixed bag to offer. All enjoyable in their own way.

Meet the Adults by Caroline Hulse is one to dry the mouth, and stifle a laugh at the mere thought. What were they thinking? To have Christmas ALL together… All? Ah A divorced couple, and their new ‘important person’, and their daughter and her imaginary friend, a rabbit called Posey.

The mind boggles, and it does well to do that. Do they all behave as adults, (except Scarlett, their daughter, and the rabbit of course)? Of course they d… No, I’ll stop right there.

Ah, but read this enjoyable romp, with shadows flickering with enough resonance to make the humour work. It a satisfying read. Incidentally, when does one become an adult? I’m still waiting but not with any urgency.

Meet The Adults by Caroline Hulse Pub Orion HB £14.99

Gallows Court by Martin Edwards

Set in 1930, London: an enigmatic heiress, a family secret and the thirst for justice.

Lots of twists and turned in this well imagined and inventive novel which includes a headless corpse, perhaps a suicide (but is it really?) and a man burned alive during an illusionist’s show witnessed by thousands. These and other murders are racing across the city, and at the heart of it all a mysterious heiress Rachel Savernake (now that’s a name to conjure with). What are Scotland Yard to make of it?

Then there’s Jacob the nosey journalist…

A fabulously ripping yarn, with no time to draw breath as Edward’s zips us through his evocative world. This is a novel plotted to perfection. Clever, clever. Loved it.

Gallows Court by Martin Edwards pub Head of Zeus. £18.99

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

Anyone like Georgette Heyer? I read her when growing up and here is Tessa Dare picking up her mantle with a snappy snippy novel of a governess who takes charge of two out of control orphans who need discipline, or do they? Perhaps it’s love and attention they crave and need? But how is our heroine, Alexandra Mountbatten to reach out to their guardian who transpires to be far too dishy, without her heart being damaged. But by heavens, she’s going to try because this monument to ‘without commitment’ Chase Reynaud needs much the same as his wards. Love.

Good fun, a romp, you’ll laugh.

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare Mills and Boon pb £7.99

The Narrowboat Girls by Rosie Archer

Seems that canals are the thing at the moment. First Milly Adams with her successful Waterway Girls series which Frost Magazine loved, and now Rosie Archer with The Narrowboat Girls has jumped on deck, or counter as the boaters call it and landed well, which is no surprise.

Three girls, Elsie, Dorothy and Tolly  pitch in as the war is hopefully drawing to a close and carry war supplies to where they need to be – doing their bit. They toil relentlessly along the canals with their narrowboat and butty and wonder if this new world, and tough job will kick their personal problems into the bank and allow them to start afresh.

Ah read and see. The various ‘Girls’ and their ilk ‘series’ seem to be running and running at the moment, and why not. At a literary festival panel I was chairing I asked the audience which they preferred, one-off sagas, or a series. The majority went with a series. So there your go. Read and enjoy.

The Narrowboat Girls by Rosie Archer. Quercus pb £6.99

The Orchid: The History of this Extraordinary Flower in 40 Orchids

Into every life a little rain must fall… But no, on this occasion not rain but a book of such beauty that just looking at it moved me more than many in the past have done.

I know I’m waxing lyrical but The Orchid (Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew) is more than a book. It comes boxed. The book  is exemplary and  authors Phillip Cribb and Lauren Gardiner explain the history of this sublime flower in 40 orchids, succinctly and thoroughly and with love.

As a family we first came to love orchids when we bought a house in Burton Bradstock, Dorset, on a  hill, with an garden of an acre. The first year the whole of the half acre rear garden was awash with bee orchids, and the front contained another much smaller orchid whose name I have forgotten, but whose presence brought orchid admirers from miles around. I think news travelled on the wind, much as it does for twitchers when a certain bird appears.

Then, before we moved to North Yorkshire recently we would walk our dogs along the paths in the wild flower area behind St James in Downley, High Wycombe, where in high summer, orchids grew.

It is any wonder that  orchids hold a place in our hearts.

The artwork is extraordinarily good, and the bonus is that the box – such a triumph of surprises – includes 40 frameable art prints.

Him Indoors is one of those strange beings who orchids kneel in front of and worship. He can work miracles with them, and will spend hours just looking at them, their stillness, their perfection, their everything and he has taken The Orchid and placed it on the coffee table before him, and just stares at it, then reads a page, absorbs, then stares at the illustrations again.

If you have an artist in the family, an orchid enthusiast or someone who wants to learn about this diverse and frequently elusive plant then buy it for them, or yourself: admire it, love it, keep it forever. Then you will find you are growing them, just as we are.

The Orchid. pub Carlton Publishing Group. £35.00. (Approx 200 colour artworks, 224 + 40 pages)

Milly Adams is the author of The Waterway Girls series (Arrow)

Hold tight,  here we go again. But don’t worry, you may be among murder and prejudice and confused relationships but you’re in the hands of Lynda La Plante and she won’t let you go. In fact you’ll be reading this much later into the night than you’d planned.

Murder Mile is the fourth novel in the story of young Jane Tennison’s career before we first met her in Prime Suspect. This is a great series because the mature Jane is so multi-faceted that we really want to know how she became that woman . Add to that the fact that each step in the story takes you through a crime thriller high in tension and twists and it’s irresistible.

Lynda La Plante always gives you at least three elements of a compulsive read.  There is a crime, at least one, to resolve. There is Jane’s struggle against contemporary values and prejudices. And there is a setting which is both accurate in its detail and absolutely believable. We live it with the characters. In this book we find ourselves back in the unenlightened 1970s – February 1979, the Winter of Discontent, to be precise. It was a bleak period in British life. Those who remember it will recall the strikes, the three day week, rubbish and rats in the streets, and to have it recalled so vividly  makes me wonder how we coped.

The initial murder seems almost ‘ordinary’: a woman strangled and left in an alley. Competent, promoted to Detective Sergeant, WDS (and that W should alert you to the fact that promotion doesn’t affect sexism) Jane Tennison gets on with the job. But already the male line-up is taking sides and it’s far from clear just who she can rely on. Whatever they say. And then there’s the next body. Much nastier. But in the same area, and just possibly linked. This plot is slow-burn at first but it will grab you until its twists are untangled. And then a casual remark leaves you wondering just how far her colleagues are going to let her dangle.

Jane Tennison isn’t always likeable and she makes mistakes. She also has some hard lessons to learn about who she can trust and when to keep quiet.

This is a worthy sequel and, even better, book five  – The Dirty Dozen – is not too far over  the horizon.

Murder Mile by Lynda La Plante is published by Bonnier Zaffre. Paperback priced 12.99

Penny Deacon is the author of A Kind of Puritan and A Thankless Child