The Shroud: A Horror Novella by Iain Rob Wright

Description from Goodreads:

"What begins as a relaxing hike in the picturesque Derbyshire Dales soon becomes a waking nightmare for disgraced barrister, Graham Solace.

A strange, swirling fog has just arrived and left him utterly lost and in the middle of nowhere. But there’s hope. Upon the next hill appears to be a pub, The Crooked Stag. Surely someone there will be able help to help him get back to civilsation. Right?"

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I am a big fan of Mr Wright's work and have enjoyed many of his books which I indulge in every now and again as it takes me back to my teenage years when I read horror books almost exclusively; I don't read as many now but I do like to keep my toe dipped in and Mr Wright's books usually hit the spot quite nicely and The Shroud was no exception.

Iain Rob Wright has a knack for taking a simple, everyday setting and turning it into a claustrophobic nightmare. The Shroud is a short, sharp shock of a novella that proves you don’t need a massive page count to leave a reader feeling completely unsettled.

The atmosphere here is top-notch; if you enjoyed The Mist or James Herbert’s The Fog, this will be right up your street. The "Shroud" itself feels like a living character - thick, creepy and creating a constant sense of dread about what is lurking just out of sight.

What I found most interesting wasn't just the "monsters" in the mist, but the psychological toll on Graham. He isn't the most likeable character but watching him crumble as the pub regulars confront him with his past was fascinating.

There is no filler here. The pacing is relentless, dragging you through the greyness until the final ending.

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The Idea of You by Amanda Prowse

Description from Goodreads:

"What if the one thing you want is the only thing you can’t have?

With her fortieth birthday approaching, Lucy Carpenter thinks she finally has it a wonderful new husband, Jonah, a successful career and the chance of a precious baby of her own. Life couldn’t be more perfect.

But becoming parents proves much harder to achieve than Lucy and Jonah imagined, and when Jonah’s teenage daughter Camille comes to stay with them, she becomes a constant reminder of what Lucy doesn’t have. Jonah’s love and support are unquestioning, but Lucy’s struggles with work and her own failing dreams begin to take their toll. With Camille’s presence straining the bonds of Lucy’s marriage even further, Lucy suddenly feels herself close to losing everything…"

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You know that feeling when you finally pick up a book that's been hanging out on your virtual "to-be-read" pile forever? That was me with Amanda Prowse's The Idea of You (2017). I was so ready to dive in after all these years, but unfortunately, it wasn't the memorable read I was hoping for.

The plot's all about Lucy Carpenter. She's pushing forty and desperately wants a baby, but she keeps having miscarriages, which really strains things with her husband, Jonah. Then his tricky teenage daughter, Camille, moves in, making the family dynamic way more complicated. Prowse tackles some pretty heavy topics - identity, marriage and what it really means to be a modern mum.

The book definitely covers some relevant topics but, for me, I just couldn't fully click with the characters and some of the choices they made. It stopped me from getting totally invested in their emotional roller coaster.   However, I know from reading others reviews, there are plenty who disagree with me so you might want to check it out rather than take my word for it.

Many thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and, eventually, share my thoughts of this, my first outing with Amanda Prowse.

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Troublemaker by Lesley Kara

🔥🔥🔥 Publication date: 15 January 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"Storm used to be just like her name. Wild and strong. A force to be reckoned with.

But ever since her younger brother was killed in a violent mugging, she has led a very different quiet and cautious, seeing danger everywhere. Storm’s tendency to panic has resulted in several false alarms, so when she witnesses a murder with uncanny similarities to the way her brother was killed, and yet no body is found and no one is reported missing, the police don’t take her seriously.

But Storm knows what she saw. And the murder is only the start – the killer will stop at nothing to keep Storm quiet. But how can she solve the murder and stay out of danger when no one believes her?"

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Storm used to be a force of nature, but the trauma of her brother’s murder has left her hyper-vigilant and prone to false alarms. When she witnesses a crime that mirrors her own tragedy, the police dismiss her as a "troublemaker" who is seeing things. With no body and no evidence, Storm is forced to investigate herself, but the more she digs, the more she realises the killer is now watching her.

I’ve followed Lesley Kara since The Rumour and she remains one of my favourites when it comes to "quiet" psychological thrillers. This story is a poignant look at grief and the frustration of being a "reliable" witness with an "unreliable" reputation. Storm is a deeply sympathetic lead; her anxiety is palpable and you feel every ounce of her desperation as she tries to make people believe her.

The pacing is a classic slow-burn that builds in tension the more you read on. While the "girl who cried wolf" angle is familiar, Kara adds something else by tying the mystery to Storm's past.

This is an atmospheric, twisty read that I enjoyed and it's perfect for a cold, winter's day or evening.

Thanks to the author, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Penguin and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, another great book from Lesley Kara.

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A Death in Glasgow by Eva Macrae

🔥🔥🔥 Due to be published 08 January 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from the Goodreads:

"When Holly Campbell’s body is found on the train tracks at Glasgow Central, police quickly rule it a suicide.

She’d had a troubled past. She’d tried before.

But Sergeant May Mackay can’t let one detail go. If Holly never wanted to come home, why did she buy a return ticket?

Driven by her own haunting loss and a promise to Holly’s grieving mother, May is determined to solve the mystery.

But the deeper she digs, the more sinister the truth becomes.

Someone is hiding a terrible secret. And they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it buried.

Even if it means silencing May for good…"

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I had never read anything by Eva Macrae before so I did not know what to expect with this one. It turned out to be a really atmospheric read and I liked the gritty Glasgow setting.

The story starts with a body on the tracks at Glasgow Central. The authorities are quick to call it suicide but Sergeant May Mackay is not so sure after she finds a return ticket in the victim's pocket. It is a simple detail that could easily have been missed but May is not your 'usual' copper.

May ends up working with an officer from the British Transport Police to get to the truth.   May and Dimple Sharma become even more determined to find out what actually happened to Holly Campbell since their respective bosses want to close the case.

I will admit it was a little slow at times partly, I think, because it's the first in a series and there is always a bit of background and story to provide context to the main characters and May is a strong lead whose personal grief definitely colours her perspective and makes her feel very human.

It is a solid police procedural and I would be happy to read more from her and am patiently waiting for the next instalment.

Many thanks to the author, RandomHouseUK, Cornerstone, Century and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts on this, a gritty start to a promising new Glasgow series.

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Born Bad (Manchester #1) by Marnie Riches

Description from Goodreads:

"The battle is on…

When gang leader Paddy O’Brien is stabbed in his brother’s famous nightclub, Manchester’s criminal underworld is shaken to the core. Tensions are running high, and as the body count begins to grow, the O’Brien family must face a tough decision – sell their side of the city to the infamous Boddlington gang or stick it out and risk losing their king.

But war comes easy to the bad boys, and they won’t go down without a fight. So begins a fierce battle for the South Side, with the leading Manchester gangsters taking the law into their own hands – but only the strongest will survive…"

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I seriously can’t believe this has been on my "to-be-read" pile since it came out in 2017! I should have dived into it ages ago.

Born Bad is a fast-paced thriller that kicks off after gang boss Paddy O’Brien is stabbed, sparking a brutal turf war in Manchester’s criminal underworld. Riches excels at showing the intense fallout - from the desperate choices of people like Leviticus Bell on the bottom rung, to the resilience of figures like Sheila O’Brien.

The book is raw, gripping and uses authentic dialogue with the necessary dark humour. If you like your crime fiction realistic and don’t mind the punches it pulls, pick this one up and don't leave it as long as I did!

Many thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and, eventually, share my thoughts of this great book.

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