I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

Today we have our review (non spoiler as always). Book blurb read out loud if you prefer than reading from the text. I also have captions as some folk struggle with my Scottish accent (I do slow it down and enunciate when reading the blurbs resulting in a poshy accent apparently lol shhh Laura). Click HERE for the book blurb to be read to ya.

Here is our non spoiler review, enjoy, perfect for reading anytime, we curled up with a blanket or duvet because it is freezing here.


I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1.5 days

Pages - 341

Publisher - HQ Stories

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

In the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

How would you react in a life-or-death situation?

It’s a question everyone asks themselves, but few have to face in real life. English teacher Richard Boyle certainly never thought he would find himself talking down a former student intent on harming others, but when Mark LeDrew shows up at Richard’s school with a bomb strapped to his chest, Richard immediately jumps into action. Thanks to some quick thinking, he averts a major tragedy and is hailed as a hero, but not all the attention focused on him is positive.

Richard’s brief moment in the spotlight puts him in the sights of a deranged blackmailer with a score to settle. The situation rapidly spirals out of control, drawing Richard into a fraught web of salacious accusations and deadly secrets. As he tries to uncover the truth he discovers that there’s something deeply wrong in the town—something that ties together Mark, the blackmailer, and a gang of ruthless drug dealers, and Richard has landed smack in the middle of it. He’s desperate to find a way out, but everyone in his life seems to be hiding something, and trusting the wrong person could cost him everything he loves.

What price will he pay for one good deed?


My Review

Ooft the opening chapter, an ex pupil comes to his old school with a bomb, teacher Richard Boyle goes directly to the threat and ends up making the news in their wee town. Despite Richard being the hero of the hour he soon finds himself in a situation of blackmail, something that could ruin not just his career, his life but everything he holds dear. Buckle in folks you are about to go on a wild ride!

The chapters are short (we LOVE that) and they switch between Richard and untitled but they basically focus on the other characters and back and forth. There is so much going on, Richards family life and responding to how he put himself in harms way and everything that follows. The people blackmailing Richard and their chaotic lives but also the people involved in their dodgy dealings. The other one being Marta, Richard's sister in law who is a cop and the interlinked between her investigation and things that bring crossover to her sister and Richard.

It is absolutely a thriller, page turner and does have some themes that folk may find triggering, drugs, sa mentioned, murder, violence, blackmail, relationship issues, investigation its a whole mixed bag. Despite going between characters it all flows well and has good pace, it has been a wee while since we read Barclay and we do have others on the tbrm. Perfect when you just want to escape reality and absorb into a whole world of choas, 4.5/5 for us. This is a standalone just make sure when you pick it up your day is clear because you are going to want to devour it!

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The Dilemma by B A Paris Blog Tour

Today is my stop on the blog tour for "The Dilemma" by author B A Paris, for my stop I have my review. as you can see it is a popular tour and many stops, please check out the other bloggers as we all offer different content.




The Dilemma by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - approx 4 hours

Pages - 333

Publisher - HQ Stories

Source - ARC

Blurb from Amazon

It’s Livia’s 40th birthday and she’s having the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding she never had. Everyone she loves will be there except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But although Livia loves Marnie, she’s secretly glad she won’t be at the party. She needs to tell Adam something about their daughter but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.

Adam wants everything to be perfect for Livia so he’s secretly arranged for Marnie to come home and surprise her on her birthday. During the day, he hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia, because how can the party go on? But she’s so happy, so excited – and the guests are about to arrive.

The Dilemma – how far would you go to give someone you love a last few hours of happiness?


My Review

The book splits the chapters into us hearing from the main characters, Livia and Adam, told in first person narrative. Livia wants everything perfect for her big birthday, the amount of money spent it is lavish, over the top and on par with a wedding. It means so much to Livia and Adam just wants her to have her special day. He has arranged as a surprise for their daughter to come home and surprise them. But Adam has found out some news that will destroy the party, his wife's big night, he can't say anything but how do you act normal with something so huge weighing down on you. Livia finds out a secret that will devastate Adam and their close circle, how can she tell him, she knows she should, how can she act normal at the party? Both do what they feel is right, tensions are high and the reader is along for the ride as everything builds up and the party fast approaches.

The big theme of this one is families, friendship, love, secrets, lies and drama. Honestly so so much going on but family and friendship/relationships is integral to everything. Livia has been estranged from her parents for so long, Adam and their song have a very strained relationship, Livia is so hung up on grieving for her parents excluding her from her life, her children. As the book goes on you get a bit more clarity on why she is the way she is and why this party means so much to her.

As the reader you are a bit up and down, why would you do X, behaviours, choices - some of the characters you are scratching your head at but it is easy to judge when you aren't in the thick of it. How far would you go to protect the person you love. The book examines human behaviour, cause and effect and the lasting ripples decisions made can impact upon the person and those they love. 4.5/5 for me this time. It is no secret I am a fan of this author and I look forward to whatever she pens next.

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Bookstagrammers

What exactly is a Bookstagrammer? Well, some people think it means different things however ultimately, I think we all agree it is people on Instagram who post all things books.



I have a wee Instagram account, primarily for my bookposts but I do post randoms too, if travelling, animals, outdoors, Potter related stuff, food/drink, Princess Trixie (although she has her own account, yes I am that person who made an account for their cat lol). I would say I am a book geek who just loves taking photos of most things but the hashtags help connect and find like minded folk. You can find my Instagram here!





I first heard the term bookstagram when someone asked me why I hadn't added it to my book post (picture of a book I popped on Instagram). So now, if I have a book photo I generally add the tag. However there are some pretty amazing bookstagrammer accounts out there that use it properly. They create amazing book posts, photos of books with amazing backgrounds, books with themes, books with animals, books with book related clothes/items. I can spend hours just scrolling through some of the amazing pictures posted.

Some bookstagrammers also review on Instagram. So a photo of the book, relevant hashtags and then they include their full review, this isn't something I do but I do like the different options and I love the photos.

So I got a book in that I am on the blog tour for "Dead Girls" by Graeme Cameron. As it is crime fiction I have some tape I bought for a party I was yet to use. So, I got it out to do as a wee background, of course Trixie needed to get into it and have a sniff.





We have a new birdfeeder so a lot of birds have recently been visiting and we found this feather this morning so I had to add that into the piccy. How great would it be if in the book there is something bird or feather related!






My turn for the blog tour is this week and I am working a few shifts before it so I have had to put my current read aside to get into this one, many thanks to Joe from HQStories for sending.






If you have an Instagram account or are a bookstagrammer please leave your link so I can check it out. Always looking to add more book related accounts to follow.