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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...

The Moose Paradox by Antii Tuomainen Translated by David Hackston #PaperbackPublication #Review

 

Having loved The Moose Paradox by Antii Tuomainen, I am delighted to repost my review to celebrate the publication of The Moose Paradox in paperback, today, June 22nd. 

Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen has finally restored order both to his life and to YouMeFun, the adventure park he now owns, when a man from the past appears – and turns everything upside down again. More problems arise when the park’s equipment supplier is taken over by a shady trio, with confusing demands. Why won’t Toy of Finland Ltd sell the new Moose Chute to Henri when he needs it as the park’s main attraction?

Meanwhile, Henri’s relationship with artist Laura has reached breaking point, and, in order to survive this new chaotic world, he must push every calculation to its limits, before it’s too late… 

Absurdly funny, heart-stoppingly poignant and full of nail-biting suspense, The Moose Paradox is the second instalment in the critically acclaimed, pitch-perfect Rabbit Factor Trilogy and things are messier than ever…

 My Thoughts

The second in the series continues the black humour and dry wit of The Rabbit Factor. Henri Koskinen  is taking the same calculated, mathematical approach to his life and to trying to run the amusement park as ever. It is not an easy task. Along with Henri, the reader is in for some gigantic surprises along the way.  Henri seems to get himself into some situations which his logical thinking has to try to find a way through. It is a quirky thriller with some curious characters who work within the park and a whole variety of enemies.

    As soon as Henri feels that he is getting his life into some sort of order, chaos reigns. Some of the situations seem absurd, but it is the humour within the suspense which entertains. Henri also has to apply his mathematical thinking to his struggling romance with Laura, who as an artist, is as far frmm his way of looking at life as you can get. However, their conversations work and contain a rich seam of laconic wit. David Hackston has produced a lively translation which certainly captures the individuality of the author's voice. I am looking forward to where Book 3 takes us.

In short: thrills and spills

About the Author

 

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for ‘Best Finnish Crime Novel of 2011’ and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. Two years later, in 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died (2017) became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’.

 You can read my review of The Rabbit Factor here.
 
You can follow Antti here: Website   |  Twitter   |  Instagram
                                           | Facebook  

Book links: Amazon UK
 

Thanks to Antti Tuomainen, Karen Sullivan and Anne Cater of Orenda Books for a copy of the book and a place on the Blog Tour.
 
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