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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...
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The Lost Shrine by Nicola Ford #Hills&Barbrook book 2 #Review #Publication Day


 I am delighted to be featuring Nicola Ford's latest novel, The Lost Shrine, on Publication Day.

Clare Hills, archaeologist and sometime sleuth, is struggling to finance her recently established university research institute along with her long-time friend, Dr David Barbrook. When they are offered commercial work with a housing developer on a site in the Cotswolds, the pair are hardly in a position to refuse. There is just one slight catch: the previous site director, Beth Kinsella, was found hanged on-site, surrounded by mutilated wildlife. Despite misgivings, Clare leads a team to continue work on the dig, juggling lingering disquiet between local residents and the developers. When something unsettling is unearthed, will Clare uncover the truth before it is hidden for ever?

My Thoughts

When I reviewed the first in this series,The Hidden Bones, I wrote that I hoped to read more books featuring Clare Hills. Well I got my wish and thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Shrine. As archaeology meets crime fiction, this is a book which totally engages the reader and immerses you in a world which the author knows well. Consequently, it has an authenticity which rings true.

    I found all the characters to be believable and love the connection which is teased between David Barbrook and Claire Hills. In fact all the secondary characters stand out in their own right, with Jo and Margaret being my favourites. The mystery is slowly uncovered, in a painstaking way, mirroring the work on site. In all, it is an entertaining read, written with a fluent writing style and an easy manner. Roll on Book 3!

In short: More secrets are uncovered in the Cotswolds.
 
About the Author



Nicola Ford is the pen-name for archaeologist Dr Nick Snashall, National Trust Archaeologist for the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. Through her day job and now her writing, she’s spent more time than most people thinking about the dead.
 

You can follow Nicola here: Website   |  Facebook   |  Twitter 
                                            |  Instagram

Book link:   Amazon UK

Thanks to Nicola Ford and Lesley Crooks of Allison & Busby for a copy of the book. There will be the opportunity to get the e-book for 99p from 29th May to 5th June.


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