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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...
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The Chalk Man by C J Tudor ** Blog Tour Review**

I am very pleased to be taking part in the Blog Tour for C J Tudor's debut novel, The Chalk Man. It is such an original story, full of surprises and packed with tantalizing clues.
 

Looking back, it all started on the day of the fair and the terrible accident. When twelve-year-old Eddie first met the Chalk Man.



It was the Chalk Man who gave Eddie the idea for the drawings: a way to leave secret messages between his group of friends.



And it was fun, to start with, until the figures led them to the body of a young girl.



That was thirty years ago and Ed thought the past was behind him. Then he receives a letter containing just two things: a piece of chalk, and a drawing of a stick figure. As history begins to repeat itself, Ed realises the game was never over . . .



Everyone has secrets.

Everyone is guilty of something.

And children are not always so innocent.

My Thoughts

The Chalk Man has been widely praised by the critics as a fantastic debut novel and her publishers, Michael Joseph, describe her as 'our next big crime and thriller superstar' adding, 'The Chalk Man is set to be THE book of 2018'. It has been sold in 39 territories and there are major film talks in progress so I think that this is going to be a book that will be noticed. What I perceived was that it is a cleverly constructed thriller which takes us from the 1980's to the present day and back, seamlessly including a set of unusual and highly idiosyncratic characters and presenting us with a plot which never disappoints. 

   Crowned by an utterly creepy ending, it is a strange mix of crime thriller, psychological study and the macabre with hints of magic. You are never quite sure what is real and what is imagined or dreamed. Who to believe? Who can be relied on? It is unsettling and there is always the feeling that the community in which it is set is watching in silence. It is interesting to meet Ed as a boy and an adult and it is easy to pick out which is which, showing enviable writing ability. 

In short: a macabre page-turner - one to watch. 



About the Author

C J Tudor was born in Salisbury and grew up in Nottingham, where she still lives with her partner and young daughter. Her love of writing, especially the dark and macabre, started young. When her peers were reading Judy Blume, she was devouring Stephen King and James Herbert.

Over the year, she has had a variety of jobs, including trainee reporter, waitress, radio scriptwriter, shop assistant, voiceover artist, television presenter, copywriter and now author. The Chalk Man is her first novel. 

You can follow C J Tudor here: Facebook   |  Twitter

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Jenny Platt of Penguin Randomhouse and C J Tudor for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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