The Associate: A Shanna Regan Murder Mystery by Victoria Goldman - #BookReview

Two fresh pig's ears, pink and plump, hang from a rusty wall light. Blood trickles down into a shiny red pool on the yellowing flagstones.

For years I explored the globe, tracking down news stories. But I don't need to travel far to see the worst of human nature, it seems. Sometimes it's right on my doorstep.

Rubberneckers jostle around me, peering through the black railings. A small crowd - ten, maybe fifteen. Some cheering, some jeering, some seeming as bewildered as I am.

A handful carry white placards...

***

THE BODY COUNT IS RISING ... AND GETTING FAR TOO CLOSE

A missing architect. An interfaith charity project. Vandalism and online threats. Can racist slogans lead to kidnap – or even murder?

When an architect vanishes in East London, her concerned fiancé asks journalist Shanna Regan to find her. The missing woman has been leading an interfaith Jewish-Muslim charity project that’s become the target of malicious damage and racist threats.

After Shanna witnesses a teenage girl fall to her death, she’s convinced the architect’s disappearance is also linked to a local youth outreach project. And then another woman is reported missing.

Amid rising local tensions, danger appears to be lurking around every corner. Even the safest sanctuaries seem to be hiding the darkest secrets. As Shanna uncovers a tangled web of lies, she puts her own life on the line. Will she find the missing architect before it’s too late?

The Associate is the compelling and thought-provoking sequel to The Redeemer.

***

This book is the second in the Shanna Regan series. It follows on from The Redeemer, which began Shanna's story. If you would like to read my review of The Redeemer you can find it by clicking here.

Whilst The Redeemer was an excellent debut, in The Associate, we find the author appearing more self-assured and mature in her writing. She has given us an accomplished novel which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

It is an engaging and compelling story centred around a Jewish and Muslim community project, and which serves to highlight the commonalities surrounding the two religions rather than their differences. For some readers this will provide an illustrative and educational aspect to the story which the author accomplishes without being remotely preachy.

Rather, it is built around a believable story and setting with a plot with sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader enthralled. There is a tension, mystery and suspense throughout. With the theme of asylum seekers, gun crime and gang culture included this is a very relevant story.

Shanna is a fantastic character. She is a bold and determined woman who deals with her own flaws and insecurities. I enjoyed her backstory playing out alongside the plot of the book.  Any reader who has ever questioned where they come from will readily identify with Shanna.

The Associate is a well written and engaging book. I certainly hope that this is not the last of Shanna, and that the talented Ms. Goldman will be bringing us another book in the series.

I highly recommend this book.

ISBN: 978 1739695439

Publisher:  Three Crowns Publishing UK

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  328 (paperback)

About the Author:

VICTORIA GOLDMAN is a freelance journalist, editor and proofreader. She was given an honourable mention for The Redeemer in the Capital Crime/DHH Literary Agency New Voices Award 2019 and was shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel of 2022 in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards.

Victoria lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and two sons. The Associate is her second novel in the Shanna Regan series.

Victoria also featured here on the blog with her top eight books she would take with her to a desert island. You can read this feature by clicking here.

(ARC courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo - Illustrated by Christian Birmingham - #BookReview

None of it would ever have happened if it hadn't been for Grandma's tree. And that's a fact. Ever since Grandma died - that was about three years ago now - Grandpa had always come to spend the summer holidays with us up in Manchester. But this summer he said he couldn't come, because he was worried about Grandma's tree.

We'd all planted that tree together, the whole family, in his garden in Cambridge. A cherry tree it was, because Grandma especially loved the white blossoms in the spring. Each of us had passed around the jug and poured a little water on it, to give it a good start.

***

A stunning and moving novel from Michael Morpurgo, the nation’s favourite storyteller – featuring the bravest dog in all the world…

This is the story of Aman, as told in his own words – a boy from Afghanistan fleeing the horror of the Afghan war. When a western dog shows up outside the caves where Aman lives with his mother, Aman is initially repulsed – it is not customary for people to keep dogs as pets in his part of the world. But when Aman and his mother finally decide to make a bid for freedom, the dog Aman has called Shadow will not leave their side. Soon it becomes clear: the destinies of boy and dog are linked, and always will be…

***

I very rarely review children's books, although before I began the blog I exclusively did children and young adult titles. Those were the days when reviews were only found in magazines and newspapers and I was a regular contributor to Carousel magazine and a few others.

I have happy memories of Michael Morpurgo's books. I can remember perching on the edge of the bed while I read them to my children at bed time. They adored The Butterfly Lion and Kensuke's Kingdom and as they grew older they all enjoyed reading the outstanding Private Peaceful.

Shadow was published after they were grown but I wanted a trip down memory lane and so purchased a copy. It is a wonderful story that appealed to me as a adult as much as it would to children.

The thing I appreciate about Mr Morpurgo's writing is that although they are intended for a young audience, he does not shy away from tackling difficult subjects and situations. Shadow is about asylum seekers, life under Taliban rule in Afghanistan and the feeling of hopelessness. Neither does he sugar coat his text.  He writes with such sensitivity that they are palatable for a young audience, whilst portraying what was a horrifying situation for the main character, Aman, and his family.

I loved the characters of Matt, Aman and Grandpa, and I can never resist a book which has a dog as one of its central characters. The characters come alive, not only in the text, but in the excellent monotone illustrations.

This is a story about hope and resilience and would be perfect for children around nine years and upwards. However, any younger child who has experienced life as a refugee would find this book relatable and would enjoy sharing it with an adult. I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 0007339617

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages: 288 (paperback)

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About the Author: 

Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's best-loved children's book writers. He has written more than 100 books and has won the Smarties Prize, the Whitbread Award, and the Blue Peter Book Award for Private Peaceful. He is also the author of War Horse which has been made into a Tony Award-winning Broadway play and a Golden Globe-nominated film. Michael was Writer in Residence at The Savoy Hotel from January to March 2007, and previously he was Children's Laureate from 2003-2005, a role that took him across Britain to inspire a love of reading in children. You can visit him online at www.michaelmorpurgo.com.

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*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.

(author photo courtesy of the authors website/bio info courtesy of Amazon)