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Book Review - Fire On The Fells By Cath Staincliffe

I was introduced to this author by Netgalley and Joffe Books, who have kindly offered me a copy of Fire On The Fells in return for my honest review.  As I knew very little about Cath Staincliffe I thought I would do little search and find some information to share with you before I review her book. Little did I know what I would find out. Cath is a novelist, radio playwright and the creator of ITV's hit series, Blue Murder starring Caroline Quentin. Her radio work for the BBC includes the three-part thriller, Undercover, Legacy and Stone. Below names just a few of the nominations and prizes won by this talented author. Cath has been short listed many times for the prestigious CWA Daggers and was a winner of the Short Story Dagger. Her book Letters To My Daughter’s Killer was selected for Specsavers Crime Thriller Book Club and featured on ITV3’s Crime Thriller Club. The Fells, book one of the Detectives Donovan & Young series was shortlisted for the peoples book prize.  Fi...
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Book Review - By Your Side By Ruth Jones

 


By Your Side By Ruth Jones

Genre - Women's Fiction
My Rating - ★★★★★

I had the incredible chance to dive into an advance copy of Ruth Jones's, By Your side, thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers.

Due to be released on 22nd May 2025

 This is the third book that I have read by Ruth Jones and it really did not disappoint.

 

Synopsis

Linda and Levi will never meet. But they’re going to change each other’s lives.

In her role at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit, Linda Standish investigates the lives of those who’ve died alone and tracks down any living relatives. She’s been a friend to the friendless for the past thirty-three years. And now she’s looking forward to an early retirement.

But before she hangs up her lanyard, Linda takes on one last case – that of Levi Norman – a Welshman who made his home on a remote Scottish island for the past five years.

What brought Levi here? And who did he leave behind? Obliged to travel (by hearse) with her arch nemesis Fergus Murray, and helped (and hindered) by local residents, Linda searches for clues to a life now lost. And in the process unexpectedly makes new friends, and discovers things about herself she never knew.

 

My Review

What a compelling, emotional yet heart-warming story of love, family relationships, life struggles and community spirit. It had me living in Linda’s shoes from start to finish. With characters that were realistic and relatable, it had me gripped. I struggled to put it down, read it within 24 hours and just needed to find out, who was Levi Norman, did Linda manage to solve the case, was there a happy ever after for Linda and Brodie?

Ruth wrote this book in such an empathetic way. She gave me a real mix of emotions from smirking at the antics to shedding a tear at the heart wrenching situations.

I think this book may stay with me for a while yet!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

 

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