22nd Apr 2019 – White Tulip

PUBLISHERS BLURB

Happily married to the charismatic headmaster of a prestigious boarding school, Louise thinks her life is perfect.

But after hearing that her husband is having an affair, Louise must decide how far she is prepared to go to save her marriage. Confident in her IT skills, Louise cyber bullies her rival.

When the police then become involved, Louise realises she has made a dangerous choice as first one woman, then another, is found murdered.

Realising she has taken on more than she intended, Louise has to make another choice, and this one could cost her not only her marriage, but also her life…

MY REVIEW

Nick Kelly is the new Headteacher at the exclusive public school, Edleybury. With his wife Louise they are settling in and Nick has plans to update the school. They have a journalist, Rosie Whyte visiting to interview them as publicity for the school. When the interviews are over, Rosie approaches Louise and tells her, Nick is having an affair with his secretary Sue…she has pictures to prove it…….

Louise is so rocked by this, her marriage is so important to her…..she decides to use her IT skills and starts a campaign of hateful emails about Sue to force her to resign so life can go back to normal…..but then Sue takes her own life….

The police investigate and feel Louise knows more than she’s saying….that she may be responsible for the death……but then there’s another death….just who is responsible?

I am a fan of Leigh Russell’s writing, but this is my favourite so far….great characters and some really clever twists mean suspicion falls on so many…..this will keep you guessing right up to the last amazingly jaw dropping moments…..brilliant.

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leigh Russell, author of the internationally bestselling Geraldine Steel crime series, has sold well over a million books worldwide.

Her novels have been translated into Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Turkish. Reaching #1 on Kindle, her books have been selected as Best Fiction Book of the Year by the Miami Examiner, voted Best Crime Fiction Book of the Year in Crime Time, a Top Read on Eurocrime and shortlisted for the John Creasey New Blood CWA Dagger Award, long listed for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award, and a finalist for the People’s Book Prize.

Leigh studied at the University of Kent, gaining a Masters degree in English. She serves on the board of the Crime Writers Association, chairs the Debut Dagger Judges, and is a Royal Literary Fellow.

Facebook: facebook.com/leigh.russell.50
Twitter: @LeighRussell
Website: leighrussell.co.uk

PUBLISHERS BLURB

SOME RELATIONSHIPS ARE JUST MURDER

It’s 1985, and Joe Stone is excited to be joining his old school friend, and lifelong crush, Chris, for a long weekend in London’s Soho—home to a vibrant, developing gay scene, and a million miles from the small town Joe and Chris grew up in.

When Chris is found brutally murdered, the police write his death off as another rent boy fallen foul of a bad hook up. But Joe knows his best friend was killed deliberately, and joins forces with former police detective, Russell Dixon—Chris’s flatmate—to find out why.

Spiralling debt, illicit sex, blackmail, spurned lovers and hard-nosed gangsters all play their part, but who among the celebrities, fashionistas, drag queens, ex-lovers and so-called friends is Chris’s killer?

A noirish whodunit set in 1980s London, with all the big hair, electro-pop, shoulder pads, police discrimination and lethal killers that the era had to offer.

TAINTED LOVE IS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SOHO NOIR SERIES OF COZY CRIME NOVELLAS.

MY REVIEW

This is set in 1980’s Soho, London in the gay club scene with music from Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Soft Cell et al.

Joe is visiting London to see his friend, Chris, who he has been besotted with since school. He’s good looking, confident and runs a fashion label with his business partner Gavin..

On a lively, fun night out Joe meets Luc a beautiful Frenchman and for the first time in his life he feels happy…..BUT….he sees Chris argue with Patty and the Lizard….(local gangster Tony.).

After a night of glorious passion with Luc, Joe heads back to Chris’ flat only to find him dead in a pool of blood. The police arrive, but due to the homophobia of Detective Skinner……they realise nothing will be done….it’s just another dead rent boy !!.

So, Joe and Russell, Chris’ housemate and ex-Police officer, decide to investigate themselves….they find bad debts, a gangster, an MP, blackmail and love and passion in amongst discrimination and homophobia in this brilliant, vibrant novella.

I loved the writing by TS Hunter, it evokes the feel of London in the 80’s, the music and the atmosphere of Soho…with its neon lights (and clothing !)…in this cosy mystery…..with a distinct noir touch. 🌈🌈🌈

My thanks to Red Dog Press for the opportunity to read this and a free copy of the book and promotional materials. This is my honest and unbiased review

GIVEAWAY

We have put together a RaffleCopter Prize Giveaway of a Signed Copy of Tainted Love, a fabulous “Go Away I’m Reading” tote bag, a rainbow button badge, and some chocolate.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b5939c611/?

About the Author:

Claiming to be only half-Welsh, T.S. Hunter lived in South Wales for much of his latter teens, moving to London as soon as confidence and finances allowed. He never looked back.

He has variously been a teacher, a cocktail waiter, a podium dancer and a removal man, but his passion for writing has been the only constant.

He’s a confident and engaging speaker and guest, who is as passionate about writing and storytelling as he is about promoting mainstream LGBT fiction.

He now lives with his husband in the country, and is active on social media as @TSHunter5.

About the series:

The Soho Noir series is set in the decade of big hair, shoulder pads, pastel suits and bright, cheesy pop, in a part of London which, on the surface at least, seemed to accept and adore people from all walks of life—a melting pot of gender, sexuality, colour and race, where celebrities rubbed up against the average Joe in cafes, bars and hair salons on every street.

But the 1980s had a darker underbelly, even in Soho. This was a time when gay rights were hard fought, where the police actively targeted gay men as easy victims for arrest and extortion, the government deliberately restricted gay rights and the tabloids screamed about The Gay Plague—the AIDS epidemic. And yet, gay icons who would go on to endure lasting fame and success were springing up all over the pop and fashion world.

The 1980s forms a strangely fitting, sometimes nostalgic, always entertaining backdrop to this colourful series of cozy crime stories.

Noirish, sexy and delicious.