Jacob Collins

What are you looking forward to reading? 📚📖 I’m planning on starting the new novel by Jo Callaghan, Body of Lies in the next couple of days. The ending of the last book was so chilling and this series has got even more relevant in the last few years, especially with the rise of AI. I’m still on the fence with how I feel about AI. I think it can be useful, especially for planning days out and holidays, but I think it’s scary what it can potentially be used for beyond that. What are your thoughts on AI? About Body of Lies: Human suspicion. AI manipulation. Who can you trust when truth has no meaning? DCS Kat Frank returns to work at the Future Policing Unit after a tragic loss, only to find herself thrust into a new high-profile case. On the night of Halloween a local MP is found murdered, with a taunting message written in binary code that seems to target Kat specifically: Catch me if you can. The victim’s anti-AI sentiments suggest a political motive, and as Kat investigates with her partner AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI detective – she finds herself once again battling her own prejudices about the technological future he represents. But when a cyberattack takes out the National Grid, Kat and Lock have to race against the clock to track down the hacker before thousands die. Tangled in a web of suspicion and deception, Kat must choose who and what to believe when the truth seems to defy both instinct and logic. Can she set aside her old doubts and put her faith in her AI partner one last time? Or will this case send Lock down a path she just can’t follow – a path that will leave humanity behind for good? #bodyoflies #jocallaghan #hookedfrompageone #bookstagram #booksofinstagram

What are you reading next? 📚📖 I’m planning on starting Under the Blazing Sun by Jenny Lund Madsen in the next couple of days. I absolutely loved the uniqueness of her debut novel, Thirty Days of Darkness where Jenny’s main character, Hannah is publicly challenged to write a crime novel in thirty days. I am so excited to see Hannah return in Under the Blazing Sun which is published later this month. 📖 About Under the Blazing Sun: Hannah is miserable. Her love life is in ruins, her contract demands a sequel to her bestselling crime debut – and she’s out of ideas. After a mortifying TV interview, her agent ships her off to a sun-drenched Sicilian villa with a simple order: finish the book. No distractions. No excuses. But inspiration doesn’t strike – murder does. When a night out ends in murder, Hannah finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation … again. The police want her out of the way, and the only person who seems to believe her is a young but charming Italian police officer. That is, until she doesn’t. Soon Hannah is chasing suspects, fleeing crime scenes, and doing whatever it takes to avoid becoming the next victim. She came to write a crime novel. Now she’s trapped inside one. Dark, sly and deliciously atmospheric, Under the Blazing Sun is the second novel in the award-winning series featuring accidental sleuth and disgruntled literary author Hannah, whose pursuit of plot twists keeps turning dangerously real. #undertheblazingsun #jennylundmadsen #hookedfrompageone #bookstagram #booksofinstagram

BOOK REVIEW 📚📖 On my blog today I’m sharing my thoughts on the debut novel by @bramwelllawes Thornby Manor as part of the blog tour. @orendabooks @randomthingstours 📚 Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes has created a creepy, atmospheric setting in her debut gothic thriller, Thornby Manor. We are introduced to Briar Monroe, who finds herself travelling to Thornby Manor, following the death of her parents. Thornby Manor isn’t where Briar expected herself to be. By travelling there, instead of her intended journey with her aunt, Briar finds herself on an unexpected path, and there are many secrets on this journey, shrouded in mist, which Briar is determined to uncover. I absolutely loved the setting, which Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes has done an excellent job of bringing to life. I could see the house rising out of the mist and feel the eeriness within its walls as Briar tries to navigate this next phase of her life. The owner of the house, Lord Danville, is definitely an intriguing character. I got the sense that he is a person you would not like to get on the wrong side of. Briar senses something isn’t quite right here, and the more she tried to investigate, the more I wanted to shout to her that she seemed to be getting closer and closer to danger. The connection Briar forms with Gabriel, Lord Danville’s son, is one of the highlights of this book. I loved how they worked together to discover the secrets of Thornby Manor, particularly in what Lord Danville might be hiding, particularly with what happened to Gabriel’s mother before she recently died. This is what helps to create that creeping sense of dread, which really increases the tension. The more Briar and Gabriel worked together, the more it was possible to see the connection and the chemistry forming between them. It did leave me wondering how Stephanie might continue to develop this further and where this path would lead them. I have a feeling Stephanie’s characters may become firm favourites among readers of this genre. 📚 My full review can be found on my blog - link in bio #thornbymanor #stephaniebramwelllawes #hookedfrompageone #bookreview #blogtour

BOOK REVIEW 📚📖 On my blog today I’m sharing my thoughts on the gripping new novel by @suzyaspleybooks The Bone Mother as part of the blog tour! @orendabooks @randomthingstours 📚 If you love atmospheric, tense reads, The Bone Mother by Suzy Aspley is the book for you. The novel begins with a chilling opening with the discovery of body parts near a railway line. Martha Strangeways, who we met for the first time in the first book in this series, is, of course, drawn to the investigation, but she has no idea just how dark and strange this case will be. I loved the gothic and supernatural elements to this book, which, for me, made it so compelling and added to the atmosphere. The plot centres around a mysterious shrine which is still believed, by some, to hold supernatural powers, and as the investigation proceeds, Martha can’t help but draw a link between the murders and the shrine, especially due to the ritualistic nature of the deaths. The folklore element is drawn on really well here and is made even more atmospheric with Halloween fast approaching. I find anything like this intriguing, so this was another reason why I loved this book so much. Suzy Aspley does an excellent job of creating a real sense of impending danger, and I found this particularly with Martha’s friend, Orla, who is pregnant. Suzy’s characters really spring to life in The Bone Mother. Martha’s relationship with DI Summers was compelling, and I really liked how they’re building trust with each other. This isn’t normally the case when journalists try to get information from the police, in most crime novels I have read, so it feels like a breath of fresh air. I loved Martha’s friendship with Orla. Martha really cares for her friend, especially because she is pregnant. There were times when I also felt for Orla, particularly when she talks about how lonely she sometimes feels. 📚 My full review can be found on my blog - link in bio #thebonemother #suzyaspley #hookedfrompageone #bookreview #bookrecommendation

What are you reading this week? 📚📖 I couldn’t resist starting It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh this weekend. I was blown away by the opening of this book and now I can’t wait to find out what happens next. I’ve been a massive fan of Clare’s books ever since I read her debut, I Let You Go several years ago now. I definitely don’t think it’ll take me long to finish it. What did you get up to at the weekend? 📖 About It’s Not What You Think: YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs. She’s been here before. YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act. YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can’t explain himself. The house has become a crime scene… Jamie is dead. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK #itsnotwhatyouthink #claremackintosh #hookedfrompageone #bookstagram #booksofinstagram

BOOK POST 📖📬 A big thank you to @orendabooks for the copy of The Princes of Pauper’s Pond which I received a copy of this week. I must admit it’s not usually the genre I read but I am intrigued by the blurb and I love the translated fiction Orenda books published. The Princes of Pauper’s Pond is published in September 2026. 📖 About The Princes of Pauper’s Pond: In 1913, two brothers are sent into the forest to fend for themselves, forging a bond through hunger, freedom and endurance. Before the summer is over, a decision fractures that world, leaving a scar that will mark their family for generations. The wondrous, magical and deeply moving debut novel by one of Norway’s finest artists, Lars Elling… 1985. Nineteen-year-old Filip spends his days playing football, listening to music on his Walkman and drawing, searching for something he cannot yet name. He lives in a large family house shared with his grandparents, where an old rift between his grandfather Arnstein and Arnstein’s brother Truls still governs the atmosphere. The cause appears trivial, an apple tree dropping fruit across a boundary fence, but the bitterness between the brothers speaks of something far older and deeper. 1913. With Europe on the brink of upheaval, Arnstein and Truls are sent into the forest for the summer by their stern father, determined that his sons should learn to endure hardship. Left to fend for themselves among travellers, log drivers and Forest Finns, the brothers live from the land, fishing, hunting and roaming the vast woodland. Cold and hungry, yet bound together by fierce loyalty and affection, they crown themselves the princes of Pauper’s Pond, rulers of a world shaped by freedom, imagination and shared struggle. Until, back home, their father makes a decision that will change everything. Spanning generations, The Princes of Pauper’s Pond is a vibrant, magical and deeply affecting novel about brotherhood and belonging, about finding joy and love in the open landscape, and about those single moments that can seal a family’s fate … forever… #theprincesofpauperspond #larselling #hookedfrompageone #orendabooks #bookpost

April Wrap-Up 📚📖 I’m really glad that the warmer weather has started to arrive here in the UK. For me April flew by, it’s hard to believe that that’s a quarter of the year done already. How was your reading month in April? I managed to read a total of 6 books this month. One standout book for me was definitely The Strange Lives of Eleanor Teague which blew me away. A twist hasn’t had that effect on me in a long time. What was your favourite read this month? The books I read were: The Bone Mother by Suzy Aspley The Ossians by Doug Johnstone Dead Heat by Sabine Durrant Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan A Mother Always Knows by Diane Jeffrey The Strange Lives of Eleanor Hill by M.K. Hill #bookstack #hookedfrompageone #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #crimefiction

BOOK POST 📚📬 I was so excited to receive a copy of The Mermaid’s Cry by @katerhodeswriter yesterday. I am such a big fan of the series, especially the setting of the Scilly Islands which Kate Rhodes does a fantastic job of bringing to life and making atmospheric. I can’t wait to read the latest book. What new books have you received recently? 📖 About The Mermaid’s Cry: DI BEN KITTO RETURNS… A COAST IN CELEBRATION When DI Ben Kitto sees a baby thrown into Penzance harbour, he prays it’s a trick of the light. But the threat is real. The child survives – barely – and soon a chilling pattern emerges. As the Dark Sky Festival brings dancers, dreamers and stargazers to Cornwall’s coast, children begin to vanish. A KILLER IN THE CROWD A small mermaid figurine is found beside each scene, echoing the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, who lured a man to his death beneath the waves. Still reeling from a devastating bereavement and determined to protect his young son, Ben is pulled back into the field and into a deadly investigation. When the killer’s messages begin arriving at his home, the threat becomes terrifyingly personal. A FINAL RECKONING Suspicions fall on familiar faces. When the summer solstice approaches, Ben must confront the boundaries of love, loss and obsession. In a final, desperate chase along the headland, only his bond with Noah – and the loyalty of his dog, Shadow – can prevent tragedy from repeating itself. #themermaidscry #katerhodes #hookedfrompageone #bookstagram #booksofınstagram

BOOK REVIEW 📚📖 On my blog today I’m sharing my thoughts on the new novel by @markhillwriter The Strange Lives of Eleanor Teague as part of the blog tour! @randomthingstours 📚 The Strange Lives of Elenaor Teague, the new novel by M.K. Hill, is very difficult to talk about without giving the plot away, but what I can say is that it blew my mind. It is very different to what M.K. Hill has written before, but I thought this made it feel really fresh and much more entertaining. We meet Eleanor Teague, who is the Lady of the House at Haddow Hall in the year 1876. The house holds many mysteries, giving Eleanor reason to believe that something about her home isn’t quite right. She believes she is seeing ghosts, which alarms her, and there are whisperings, urging her to go to The Shadow House. Eleanor is also grieving for her daughter, who passed away, and this tragic loss has undoubtedly destabilised her. But there is also a mystery surrounding her daughter’s death, which is revealed when her husband, Ezra, returns home from London. It becomes very clear to see why Eleanor is so distressed and why she is finding it so difficult to return to normal life. Eleanor is pretty much confined to Haddow Hall with only her servants to attend to her. There are some really tense scenes, even between her and her servants, which intrigued me. It gives the book a very claustrophobic feeling and gives the sense that Eleanor was trapped in her own home. The setting really did draw me in, and I felt trapped there, like I felt Eleanor was, despite her husband’s profound love for her and his insistence that she was safe and well looked over. 📚 My full review can be found on my blog - link in bio #thestrangelivesofeleanorteague #mkhill #bookreview #hookedfrompageone #bookstagram

BOOK POST 📚📬 I was thrilled to receive a copy of The Night Lagoon by Jo Morey in the post this week. When I read the blurb for the novel I thought it sounded really chilling and atmospheric, so I jumped at the chance to read it. I’ll be sharing my thoughts as part of the blog tour in May. What are you reading this weekend? 📖 About The Night Lagoon: It’s a liar’s paradise Wittering Lodge, Stann Creek, Belize In the dead of night, lying in her father’s jungle lodge, Laelia watches her partner Aid sleeping – her mind racing with everything that’s brought her to this moment. The heady Caribbean holiday when they first met. The rum-fueled passion that, day by day, creeps into something darker. The secrets she discovered in a hidden nook of the lodge, revealing a devastating past. Above all, she thinks about the impossible decision she must make before dawn. Does she stay silent and protect their newfound paradise? Or does she confront the lies which run as deep and dark as the lagoon – surfacing a dangerous truth from which there’s no return… #thenightlagoon #jomorey #bookpost #hookedfrompageone #bookstagram

BOOK REVIEW 📖📚 On my blog today I’m sharing my thoughts on The Ossians by Doug Johnstone as part of the blog tour. @orendabooks @randomthingstours 📚 Doug Johnstone takes us on a real roller-coaster ride in The Ossians. This is one of Doug’s earlier novels, and I am so pleased that they are being republished. The genre is quite different to his later works. I feel it is definitely more of a coming-of-age story. The characters go on real transformative journeys that make this book such a compelling and immersive read. We meet a band called The Ossians, who are about to catch their big break as they go on an epic tour across Scotland. Their lead singer is Connor, who is a little full of himself, and he isn’t afraid to push boundaries. But during their very first gig in the, Connor finds himself in trouble when he is approached by drug dealers, who he owes money to. From the very beginning, it seems that things are set to spiral out of control for the band, and this creates tension right from the start, making me wonder just when things were going to start to go wrong. I loved the different strands throughout this book, and especially the stranger who appears to be following the band, and who appears particularly attached to Connor. This is a strand that really helps Connor grow as a character. Connor has some wild theories about who the person is, but it’s not until we get to the end of the book, when the truth is revealed that we really see a change and a different side to him. 📚 My full review can be found on my blog - link in bio #theossians #dougjohnstone #bookreview #blogtour #hookedfrompageone

BOOK REVIEW 📚📖 On my blog today I’m sharing my thoughts on the tense new thriller by @dianefjeffrey A Mother Always Knows. 📚 A Mother Always Knows is the tense new thriller by Diane Jeffrey. Diane opens the novel with a shocking turn of events for the locals of a quiet village. A local boy has been found murdered. As the identity of the boy is revealed to the public, one local woman, Carla, is horrified because she believes her daughter, Iris, could be the boy’s killer. Diane Jeffrey tackles some dark themes in this novel, some of which have been in the news only recently. Without going into too much detail, the victim in the novel, in this case, is Iris, and this is why her mother believes she could be responsible for the murder of the boy, Joshua. Carla’s fear comes through strongly on the page, and she knows she has to do everything she can to stop the police from pinning the blame on Iris. This is what makes the tension really rise, but is Iris really to blame here for Joshua’s death? As I was reading, I kept wondering if Carla was doing more damage by trying to protect Iris, especially since one of the detective’s working on the case is a close family friend. Diane Jeffrey gradually reveals why Carla suspects her daughter could be involved. Diane Jeffrey paints a very vivid picture of how recent events have impacted Carla’s family. I really felt for Iris, particularly as Diane explored what happened to her in the weeks running up to Joshua’s murder. It is clear to see how the actions of one person can have far-reaching consequences, and Diane Jeffrey explores this really well in the book. 📚 My full review can be found on my blog - link in bio #amotheralwaysknows #dianejeffrey #bookreview #hookedfrompageone #bookstagram