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Coming Home to Maple Lodge by Alison Sherlock #Review

  I am delighted to feature the first in Alison Sherlock's new series set in the Corswolds. Coming Home to Maple Tree Lodge was published by Boldwood Books on June 20th. A family and hotel in desperate need of help… Maple Tree Lodge has been the home of the Jackson family for over a century. But the hotel has never been a success and, following the sudden loss of his father, architect Ben Jackson soon discovers the hotel is close to financial ruin. Ben has to make some tough decisions if the hotel is to survive and his family are to keep a roof over their heads. With the hotel in urgent need of a renovation, Ben’s sister calls on the talents of her best friend, interior designer Lily Watson. Cash strapped Lily needs a successful project to prove to herself and her high-achieving parents that she can carve a successful career and Maple Tree Lodge sounds like just the place for Lily to showcase her talents. However, Lily’s vision for a cosy, country Cotswolds hotel is the com...

Bone by Bone by Sanjida Kay

Bone by Bone is a psychological thriller which succeeds in creating a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere. It is centred on a mother and daughter, Laura and Autumn who have recently moved to Bristol. Autumn is the victim of bullying by an older boy at the school. In trying to intervene, Laura sets off a chain of events which turns the whole community, children, adults and the establishment against her and isolates Laura further. 

    It is easy to empathise with Laura and Autumn and we are given events from both their perspectives, alternatively. As the suspense is built up, we see Laura becoming cut off from all the usual safety nets until she seems to have no one there to support her. Just as her daughter is bullied by the other children, we see her being bullied by the adults around her. 

    The novel is written in a realistic style which draws the reader in to the situation. The climax of the story stretches the tension to breaking point. In all, I found this debut novel eminently readable, a real page turner in fact.

In short: a dark thriller set in an everyday situation. 

I received a copy of the book in advance of publication by the publishers,Corvus,  in exchange for an honest review. 

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