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See the Stars by Eleanor Ray #Review

  See the Stars by Eleanor Ray will be  published on February 5th 2026 by Piatkus .  Do you ever feel that life isn't going to plan?   When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life - steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city - isn't everything she'd hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn't fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.  Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother's best friend and Alice's teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?  Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel...

Dead Embers by Matt Brolly


Welcome to Books, Life and Everything! I am so pleased to be part of the Blog Tour to celebrate the digital publication of Dead Embers by Matt Brolly on March 6th. It is the 3rd DCI Michael Lambert novel. 


An explosive fire. A double murder. And that’s just the start…

When DCI Michael Lambert is called out to an apparent house fire, he knows it can’t be routine. Instead he finds the remains of a burnt house, a traumatised child and two corpses - one of whom is a senior police officer.

Lambert’s got other problems. Anti-corruption are onto his boss. His relationships is on the rocks. He can’t get over his ex-wife and he keeps blacking out.

But when a detective has been murdered the stakes are too high to get distracted. All is not as it seems. As the investigation continues Lambert realises he is getting drawn into something altogether bigger and more terrifying than he could ever have imagined…

Trust no one.

My Thoughts 

    This book may be the third in the series featuring DCI Michael Lambert but it stands up as a standalone read. I found the main character of Lambert to be such a strong one, with a complicated backstory. The book appears to have a simple plot at the beginning with a fire leading to the discovery of two bodies but it grows and grows in complexity as the story evolves, in an ingenious way. The central mystery is full of twists and turns, with it seeming that absolutely no one can be trusted. 

    The plot is well paced with plenty of surprises and explosions along the way. Even though police procedurals are not my favourite genre, it kept me hooked right up to the end, although some aspects were very disturbing. The author persuades us to suspend belief and takes the reader along with him through his skilful writing style and rounded central characterisation. 

In short: pacy, surprising reading with chilling moments.
 
About the Author

Following his law degree where he developed an interest in
criminal law, Matt completed his Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University. He reads widely across all genres, and is currently working on the third in his Michael Lambert thriller series. Matt lives in London with his wife and their two young children.

You can connect with Matt on   Twitter    Facebook and on his Website. 

Also visit his Goodreads site. 


Thanks to Faye Rogers and the publishers, Canelo, for a copy of the book and a place on the Blog Tour.

Catch up with the rest of the Tour!

 

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