144 AD. Alaric Hengistson, leader of the Ravensworn, revels in his many fear-fuelled names whispered in the hearth flames. Cunning in battle, a ruthless war lord. He sleeps sound in the knowledge that he has been chosen by the Gods for a higher purpose – to rise up against the tyranny of an Empire.
For years he has thwarted Rome’s attempts to gain control over the land that has long resisted them. His land. Germania. However the rules are changing, and new deals are struck between the conquering Roman legions and the feuding Germanic tribes. Deals that could prove Alaric’s downfall.
As the eagles march with the wolves, together hunting the Raven, Alaric must prove his legend or watch his Ravensworn burn in flames.
Raven is a fun, violent, action-packed epic set in Germania in the second century AD.
Alaric is very far from being any hero. Yes, he might be prepared to stand apart from the might of the Roman Empire, but he doesn’t care who he tramples on along the way. Sometimes, he’s almost likeable, but a lot of the time, he’s just a single man, making slightly dodgy decisions, often based on his rage and fury and trying to live with the consequences. Alaric is proud of his reputation, but of course, it means he has far more enemies than allies, as becomes clear as the plotline develops. Alaric also suffers in that he believes the accolades he receives and even revels in them, even though, as the reader discovers, much of it is down to blind luck and not any great skill.
Unlike many Roman-era books, Raven contains very little ‘Roman.’ Rather, the story is that of an outsider looking in and understanding how the Roman Empire works—perhaps better than the Romans did! It’s also filled with betrayal and violence.
It’s great to read a book that merges the Roman world and that of tribal Germania and have it told from the viewpoint of those tribes. I look forward to reading more about the rogue, Alaric.
Meet the author
Adam Lofthouse is the author of action-packed historical thrillers. His brand new series for Boldwood, ‘Enemies of Rome’, will focus on the boundaries at the edge of the Roman Empire. The first book Raven, will be published in February 2025.
Mary Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister, lived a remarkable life. A princess, duchess and queen, she was known as the English Rose for her beauty. Mary Tudor, Queen of France, aims to explore the life of one of the few who stood up to Henry VIII and lived to tell the tale.
Henry VIII is well known, but his larger-than-life character often overshadows that of his sisters. Mary Tudor was born a princess, married a king and then a duke, and lived an extraordinary life. This book focuses on Mary’s life, her childhood, her relationship with Henry, her marriages and her relationship with her husbands.
Mary grew up in close proximity to Henry, becoming his favourite sister, and later, after her marriage to the French king, she married his best friend, Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. The events impacting the siblings will be reviewed to examine how they may have changed and shaped their relationship.
Mary Tudor by Amy McElroy is a fascinating biographical account of the life of Mary, Henry VIII’s sister, and not to be confused with his daughter.
The story is quite remarkable, and while I knew something about her, I didn’t know everything. The chapters, which follow her through the 3 marriage proposals she receives, which result in 2 marriages, are quite astounding. So much time and effort went into trying to wed her to Prince Charles (later Emperor Charles), and then all of a sudden, she married Louis XII of France. I found it most fascinating. If anything, her 2nd marriage seems almost anticlimatic, even though it evidently wasn’t at the time. And, with all we know about Henry and his marital difficulties, Mary appears to have been somewhat serene about everything. I imagine she perhaps had a happier life, if one often troubled by the terrible debt her brother placed upon her (families!).
I really appreciated the author’s desire to keep this narrative to Mary and not to her children and grandchildren. It seems fitting to have a title devoted exclusively to her.
A fine portrayal of Mary’s eventful, if short life, with a lovely writing style.
Meet the author
Amy was born and bred in Liverpool before moving to the Midlands to study criminal justice and eventually becoming a civil servant. She has long been interested in history, reading as much and as often as she could. Her writing journey began with her blog, sharing thoughts on books she had read before developing to writing reviews for Aspects of History. The Lives of Women in the Tudor Era is Amy’s second book. Her first, Educating the Tudors, focused on the educational opportunities of all classes, those who taught them and the pastimes enjoyed by all.
I’m delighted to welcome Nitin Nanji and his book, Lalji’s Nairobi, to the blog with an excerpt.
Excerpt 1
The next morning brought an early visitor to their door in the shape of the village Sarpanch, Thakorbhai. The Sarpanch was the elected head of the village and led the Panchayat. His role was to officiate over disputes, collect fines and enforce the law with the help of the police.
Thakorbhai was a large man with short legs and a bull neck. He sported a moustache that was long and curled upwards at the ends, like two cobras poised to strike. When he sat on a chair, he folded his legs under him and they disappeared under his enormous belly. The children of the village were thrown into fits of giggles at this sight as he looked like an overgrown hen sprawled over her eggs. For that reason, he was also known unkindly as ‘Murgiben’ (mother hen).
He invited himself into the yard and sat down on Parshottam’s charpoy. He had come about the story going around that Parshottam’s son was to head out to Africa. He knew Parshottam had been making inquiries about the next meeting of the Panchayat and thought the two matters may well be connected.
“You are right, I was hoping to have the matter considered at the Panchayat,” said Parshottam before calling out for Lalji to join them. Rambai appeared with a tumbler of salted buttermilk for the Sarpanch and joined in the chorus calling for Lalji.
“What does the boy say?” inquired Thakorbhai.
“He hasn’t made up his mind. See, I was thinking with the lack of prospects here after the famines and with the tax situation….”
“You leave the tax situation to me, Parshottam,” bellowed Thakorbhai. “We need to know if the boy is willing to go and take his chances!”
At that instance, both Lalji and Naran appeared. They paid their respects to the Sarpanch by bowing to him and gesturing to touch his feet hidden under his belly.
“So, what’s your decision young man?” he inquired of Lalji. “Are you ready to cross the big ocean and arrive at the opposite shore to start a new life, away from your family?”
Lalji seated himself down in a squatting position and looked straight at the Sarpanch. Without hesitation announced, “Yes, I willl be taking the vaan and see what destiny has in store for me. It is my role as the eldest son.”
“Shabhash (well said), my boy! That’s the right answer.” The cobras parted to reveal pink gums.
“The son of Dhiraj will be accompanying him, so as he is not alone,” interjected Parshottam.
Thakorbhai waved the idea away as being of no consequence. He told Parshottam his son was in a different league from many and he was supportive of the idea. He mentioned others had considered it before but no son of the village had made the journey.
“The reasons are many but the fact is no one has had the strength of character to take the step. If I was twenty years younger, I would have given the same answer as Lalji here,” he said.
Turning to Lalji he asked, “Would you lead a group of three others from here to go with you?”
Lalji was taken aback by the question, having never considered himself as taking on such responsibility. He didn’t feel unable to lead, but he wanted to know whom the Sarpanch had in his mind.
“It would be you as their leader with Nizar the hardware merchant’s son, and Ramji the eldest son of Karsan the builder. Then there’s that idle son of Dhiraj your father has been talking about.”
“But I hardly know them. Will they follow my wishes?” inquired Lalji.
“Leave that to me. I have spoken to Karsan and Noormohammed about that and they have both pledged their sons will do as you say. They have been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time to get their sons to Africa. They are good boys and want to succeed for their families. They need sound advice and guidance from someone who is mature and responsible. None of them are capable of it on their own. They all need to be led by someone sensible and smart.”
“But I am eighteen and I think they are older,” responded Lalji. The words seem to stop the Sarpanch in his tracks momentarily. He retorted dismissively, “Arre! When I was your age, I ran both the shop and farmed the land. And I did the accounts for my elder brothers. Ability trumps age!”
Having gulped the buttermilk in one long action with his head tossed back. Then he got up briskly to leave, adding, “I hear you have an Arab sea master in mind, Parshottam. For my part, I will speak to my contacts in Porbander to find out who they should contact in Africa. I suggest you start putting together enough food and grains for the journey for him.” The two cobras were drowned in buttermilk.
Book Trailer
Here’s the blurb
British Gujarat, 1905.
Despairing of the social injustices and crippling taxes under the British Raj, Lalji, 19, flees to British East Africa hoping to build a better life using his natural business skills and acumen. But he soon finds unexpected dangers in his new home- turbulent politics and war with German East Africa- as well as some surprising opportunities. A combination of luck, coincidence, and his flair for commerce lead to early success.
Then, just as he is at his most vulnerable, a new threat emerges from where he least expects: from within his own family.
Can Lalji beat overwhelming odds to fulfill his hopes and ambitions?
A story about survival, faith, ability, humanity, and a deep desire to succeed.
The ebook will be free to download on Kindle from February 4th – 8th
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Meet the Author
Historical novelist of Indian parentage, born and raised in Kenya, educated in England, writing about India and East Africa under the British Empire.
Nitin has come to writing his debut novel after retiring as a doctor. Born in Kenya before its independence he came to England at the age of fifteen. His parentage is Indian, his grandfather having moved during the British Raj from Gujarat in India to Colonial East Africa as an economic migrant.
‘Lalji’s Nairobi’ is set in the early part of the last century, inspired by the stories of Indian migrants who settled in East Africa. A ‘rags to riches’ story of the experiences of Lalji as a determined young businessman who grapples with the challenges of living in the new colony.
Within the backdrop of a racist administration, Nitin immerses the reader into the times and norms of colonial society and shows how Lalji achieves rapid success despite difficult odds, leading a team of four compatriots from his village.
The novel is well-researched and retains the undertones of the era. Nitin’s intimate knowledge of the three cultures of the colony (British, Indian, and African) succeeds in making this an enjoyable and authentic read.
‘Lalji’s Nairobi’ is now an award-winning novel that recently won acclaim from the prestigious New Generation Indie Book Awards as a ‘Finalist’. It also earned Five Stars and the ‘Highly Recommended’ award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company, which has recently also awarded the book with a silver medal in the Blixen Africa Category.
When, at the age of 71, Gina Knight’s husband of four decades left her unexpectedly, she thought her life over. Until she met Dorothy Reed – a woman so full of the joie de vivre you’d think she was 21, not nearly 90. Gina would do anything for Dorothy. So when Dorothy suggests she take on the role of companion for one of Dorothy’s old friends, Gina sees no reason to say no.
Meredith Harper is a successful writer, living in Provence, and needs help looking after her husband, whose health is deteriorating. But when Gina arrives at the grand chateau, it becomes clear that Dorothy has not given Gina the full story. Because Meredith is also writing her memoirs, and Dorothy wants to know the contents before anyone else. So much so, she’s sent Gina to spy.
But what secrets is Meredith keeping? And will Gina be able to find out the truth before her cover’s blown?
The Old Girls’ Chateau Escape is a worthy follow-up to the first book in the series, Old Girls Behaving Badly.
This time, our cast are mostly in France, which makes a delightful scene change and allows Art Historian Gina to thrive.
While she once more takes on the role of companion to an older couple, Gina has been tasked with uncovering some secret that Dorothy doesn’t wish others to know. What follows is a charming tale filled with some trepidation and a lot of questions, which resolves itself quite beautifully in the final few chapters.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I’m sure readers will be equally entertained by Gina and Dorothy and their antics.
Kate Galley is the author of uplifting golden years fiction, including The Second Chance Holiday Club. She was previously published by Aria, and is a mobile hairdresser in her spare time.
Sebastian Locke’s quiet life is shattered when a cryptic clue to his parents’ deaths drags him into a conspiracy poised to wreck the global economy.
Unaware of the explosive secret he holds, Sebastian Locke—a brilliant yet tormented undergraduate of The London School of Economics—finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy that threatens to shatter the global economy. When he uncovers ties between his parents’ mysterious deaths and a shadowy plot involving cryptocurrency, he is plunged into a deadly race against time.
From the elite corridors of London to the sun-soaked shores of Miami, Sebastian encounters ruthless power players and underground groups, all vying for a digital fortune buried within the Swiss Alps. But one figure lurks in the shadows, more dangerous and determined than the rest, willing to stop at nothing to seize control.
With trust in scarce supply and time running out, Sebastian must crack the code to prevent catastrophe. In this high-stakes international financial thriller, will he uncover the truth before it’s too late, or will he meet the same tragic end as his parents?
Dolos is indeed a thrilling tale of cryptocurrency that quickly sweeps the reader along and never really lets us go.
Our main character is blessed with the ability to remember everything, and while this makes him a bit of a ‘cold fish’, beneath it all lies an intriguing individual. His life changes very abruptly as he starts to unravel the secrets of his parents’ lives.
Dolos is a fabulous tale that switches between the past and current events. Thanks to the author’s skills in explaining everything, I feel as though I ‘almost’ understand cryptocurrency now.
This feels like a cross between a treasure hunt (like National Treasure) and an action-adventure movie. It’s engrossing reading, and once I got into the story, I didn’t want to put it down.
A thrilling tale, very current, and readers, I’m sure, will devour it, as I did.
Meet the author
I didn’t start as a storyteller.
For over a decade I navigated the world of high finance in London, immersed in balance sheets, projections, and market trends.
Yet, during a particular research project I stumbled on a powerful realisation: the ideas I had always regarded as fictions of the future are becoming very real.
We are living in that time right now.
I felt compelled to write where others won’t dare to go, using modern-day truths to paint a thrilling, if sometimes chilling, portrait of our rapidly evolving world.
When I wrote Dolos, I sought to answer two questions:
1. How could someone create a cryptocurrency worth over a trillion dollars while remaining invisible to governments, media, and federal agencies?
2. Is this person powerful enough to crash the global financial system, unravel modern civilisation, and set humanity back to the 18th century?
I found my answers. They were quite unsettling.
***
Off the page, L H Fox escapes into quieter pursuits, though he’s never far from his next revelation about the forces shaping our world.
Alex knows she risks getting fired from her law firm if she takes on another unpaid case, but when she hears Rosa’s desperate voice at the other end of the phone, she knows she has to help: the body of Rosa’s shy teenage sister, Natalia, has been dragged, lifeless, from the Thames. Alex can’t help but think of her own missing little sister. She knows how a lack of answers can eat you alive.
Kat has worked hard to become Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, and is eager to finally put the dark and tragic part of her past behind her. But when she discovers a series of cover-ups, she begins to wonder whether her seemingly perfect new boss could be involved. Then she she’s shocked to discover a letter that raises worrying questions about a girl found drowned in London… Natalia.
There are complex and painful reasons for Alex and Kat not to work together, but when it becomes clear that there are powerful people involved in Natalia’s death, and that other girls are at risk, Alex and Kat must overcome their differences to find answers. Will they save the girls and discover the truth? Or will the high-powered players in this game stop Alex and Kat for good?
My Review
Notes on a Drowning is an engaging and very well-plotted story about two women with an awkward shared past who work together to prevent a similar tragedy to the one that first brought them together.
The beginning of the book is a little slower than the ending, as the reader begins to piece together the narrative of the two women, who have complicated lives without the addition of the mystery that reunites them. The mystery itself is complex and grows increasingly dangerous for them. Who can they trust, aside from no one but a very few?
This is a tale of corruption and power and how corrupting such power can be. It is also very current, contending with the persistent ‘boys club’ mentality that infects politics and the terrible underbelly that goes with it.
Yet, it is also a fast-paced and well-executed read. I devoured it in two sittings.
This is not my usual read. I’m a bit more ‘thriller’ minded and also more historical or cosy crime, but this is a timely tale of corruption and politics, unputdownable until the last page.
(Anna Sharpe also writes historical fiction as Anna Mazolla. I recently read The House of Whispers and thoroughly enjoyed it.)
Gwinny is at a stately home in the Yorkshire Dales, filming a small part in a gender-swapped remake of Dracula while looking after the dog of an elderly friend who lives nearby.
During filming, an actor is found dead inside a locked trailer – with a stake through their heart! The film’s star, an obnoxious big-shot Hollywood actress who once played a cop on TV, decides she will solve the crime. But Gwinny isn’t impressed, and they clash as both women mount rival investigations.
My Review
This is my first book in the Dog Sitter Detective series, and what fun it was.
This has lovely energy. The pages fly by as the story unravels. It also kept me guessing, which is how I rate a mystery. If I don’t manage to work out who the culprit was, it’s a very good read.
Gwinny is a great character, and the film set vibe was fab. The very first few pages, with their very atmospheric feel, made me wonder what I’d started reading, but it all quickly resolved itself.
This is a lovely, quick read with a resolution that will defy most readers. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and I will be reading more in the series.
Jessica is escaping to the Greek Retreat to discover if running away from a broken engagement really can lead to a happy ever after. She doesn’t believe life works that way, but her future could depend on it. The Greek island of Kynos is an idyllic hideaway, offering its visitors the space and time needed to truly appreciate the traditional hospitality. The locals are always friendly and ready to entertain their guests, while the daily activities offer many different ways to explore the island and its heritage. Jessica is hoping The Retreat will provide everything she needs in order to plan for a successful future, but has she left it too late?
The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.
Chrissie is escaping to the Greek Retreat to avoid some of the issues her parents have left her to deal with at home. She hopes that visiting a new location will give her a different perspective and help her to find a way forward.
The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.
Katie is escaping to the Greek Retreat to give herself some space to recover from an unexpected predicament. She blames herself for the situation she finds herself in and knows that something has to change, although she has no idea what she is looking for.
The Greek Retreat is a trilogy of standalone tales full of sunshine, surprises and love.
Stephanie writes contemporary fiction in the form of novels, novellas and short stories and her books explore a wide range of life’s challenges, dreams and responsibilities. The stories are all character based, so she has fun expressing each unique personality and the reasons behind their actions in a setting which always has a strong sense of community.
She published the AEGEAN SUN series of books as a fly-on-the-wall vision of life in a Greek resort during the summer season, the CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE series is set in a British suburban cul-de-sac over the festive period and the GREEK RETREAT trilogy is planned for publication in 2025.
Stephanie lives in Lancashire where, apart from reading and writing, she loves gardening and cycling and is a huge fan of the soaps Emmerdale and Neighbours.
Since Amber started the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency, she’s been feeling the pressure. So – when she and her best friends win a trip to a new luxury castle retreat on a remote island – she hopes it will be a chance to relax in style.
The girls are all excited to experience world-famous chef Valerie la Fontaine’s tasting menu.
But none of them expect there to be another dish being served that weekend: revenge. And when Valerie is found dead inside a locked room in a tower, the Bad Girls know this is a case that only they can solve…
Hilarious and gripping mystery – perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, The Traitors, and How to Kill Men and Get Away With It.
Murder on the Menu is the third book in the Bad Girls Detective Agency series, and I’ve also read the previous two. (Check out the reviews for How Not to Murder Your Ex and Murder on the Dancefloor)
This time, our trio are off to an island retreat to sample some delicious food. However, the weather is appalling, and no sooner have they arrived than they discover they’re trapped on the island. Things only get worse when a murder takes place.
This third outing with the Bad Girls Detective Agency took a little while to get going, but then it was quite a swift read. The mystery revealed itself well, and the lack of mobile technology to help our detectives added a good dynamic to the tale as it eas time to get back to some more basic detecting.
A solid read for the trio from the Bad Girls Detective Agency. What will they get up to next?
Meet the author
Katie Marsh wrote five bestselling, uplifting women’s fiction novels before turning to cosy crime for Boldwood. Previously published by Hodder, the first in her new crime series How Not To Murder Your Ex, following the fortunes of the Bad Girls Detective Agency, will be published in December 2023.
A cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz.
During an interview with reclusive jazz singer Betty Brown, journalist Virginia Farrell is shown priceless tapes from the iconic 1957 Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane gig at the Five Spot. When Betty is found murdered, Virginia is determined to recover the tapes and uncover the truth behind Betty’s death.
In the spirit of Nancy Drew, Virginia teams up with her six-foot blonde roommate to investigate the various suspects. Detective Robert Smith from the Hoboken Police Department joins the case, quickly becoming absorbed by an unsolved murder possibly linked to Betty Brown’s death, as well as an undeniable attraction to Virginia.
Dashiki is a cozy mystery laced with romance, immersing readers in the captivating world of jazz, where musicians, journalists, scholars, and enthusiasts intersect in an entertaining whodunit.
Dashiki is a delightful, cosy mystery set in the early 2000s in the vibrant jazz world of New York. I am not a fan of jazz (sorry), but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying this mystery and being entirely enthralled as our detective, Robert Smith, and amateur sleuth, Virginia, endeavour to discover who was responsible for the murder of Betty Brown, while both harbouring doubts about the other.
The plotting of the mystery is excellent, and I didn’t work out who the real culprit was, which always pleases me. Too many clues and it feels too easy. Dashiki had just the right amount to keep me guessing while reading but not enough that it was self-evident who our murderer was.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. The cast was fabulously eclectic, and the story is dotted with humour, which I also always very much enjoy. Fans of cosy mysteries will surely enjoy Dashiki as much as I did.
Meet the author
Florence Wetzel was born 1962 in Brooklyn, NY. Her novels include the thriller The Woman Who Went Overboard and the Swedish mystery The Grand Man. She has also authored horror short stories, a book of poems and memoir essays, and co-authored jazz clarinettist Perry Robinson’s autobiography. In July 2024, she published Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss.
*Terms and Conditions –UK / US & Canada entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
MJ Porter
Author of Saxon historical fiction, 20th-century historical mysteries, and Saxon historical non-fiction. Book reviewer and blog host.
MJ Porter 