YAY! Orenda Books have done it again. Another scorcher from a brilliant author! I’ve not read anything by Louise Beech before and I’ve heard fabulous things about her books. This is one I had to read!

Book Description:

The Dean Wilson Theatre is believed to be haunted by a long-dead actress, singing her last song, waiting for her final cue, looking for her killer. Now Dust, the iconic musical, is returning after 20 years. But who will be brave enough to take on the role of ghostly goddess Esme Black, last played by Morgan Miller, who was murdered in her dressing room? Theatre usher Chloe Dee is caught up in the spectacle. As the new actors arrive, including an unexpected face from her past, everything changes. Are the eerie sounds and sightings backstage real or just her imagination? Is someone playing games? Is the role of Esme Black cursed? Could witchcraft be at the heart of the tragedy? And are dark deeds from Chloe’s past about to catch up with her? Not all the drama takes place onstage. Sometimes murder, magic, obsession and the biggest of betrayals are real life. When you’re in the theatre shadows, you see everything. And Chloe has been watching.

• Print Length: 300 pages
• Publisher: Orenda Books (February 16, 2020)
• Publication Date: February 16, 2020

The Dean Wilson Theatre is haunted by the lead actress Morgan Miller, star of the hit musical ‘Dust’ who was found dead in her dressing room twenty years ago. When Dust returns for a second run, the lead part and the play is expected to be cursed. Eerie sounds, whispers, and the burning question of who will play the part of Esme Black now?

I AM DUST is written around a unique premise; a ghost story blended with urban fantasy. With two interchanging narratives, Chloe as a teenager in 2005—a period of time shrouded in mystery—and latterly an usher at the Dean Wilson Theatre in 2019. The theatre is a wonderful character; haunting, moody, a crime scene that still carries the exhilarating vibe of the golden days. You can smell burning lamps, musty costumes and greasepaint, and you can hear the indeterminate sound of arpeggios and scales as the orchestra warms up in the pit. The hush before the curtain rises… Very fitting that the author is herself an actor and familiar with the workings of a theatre, which undoubtedly conveys a huge degree of competence to the story and to the dialogue. Any reader will be in for a treat!

In 2005, while performing in an amateur production of Macbeth, Chloe, Jess and Ryan dabble in witchcraft. Even though the girls aren’t as curious in the occult, their infatuations get the better of them and they are persuaded to take part. This book tunnels into a dangerous place and investigates things most of us would steer clear of—but not so for the intrepid three. Conjuring a dormant heroine might seem the right thing to do but the ensuing mayhem may prove otherwise. Memories of a game she didn’t want to play and the pain of a love triangle come back to haunt her, and the past and present intertwine. Especially reminiscent of MacBeth and of Hecate and her two ghastly sisters; an ethereal trio of shadows that lurk in the wings. You can picture the scene: the most infamous of all cauldrons which could so easily be exchanged for a Ouija board.

After the actors have gone, Chloe imagines costumes on a hanger might come to life like the dolls in The Nutcracker. With interference on the radio and cold breath on the back of her neck, what spirits are being catapulted into the present and what messages do they bring? Chloe, no longer the carefree girl of her youth, is a broken woman carrying the scars of her past—a past she barely remembers or conscientiously has tried to forget. But she is brave and committed and is desperately trying to overcome any damage incurred along the way. This is the core of the mystery. That, and a murder which begs to be resolved at any cost.

An hypnotic unputdownable story, Beech does a perfect job of introducing us to likeable characters with honest observations to make it engaging and realistic. Then cranks up the tension to create a gripping and emotionally charged ending. Gave me a huge book hangover. So, definitely a MULTI star read from me!

About the Author:

Louise Beech remembers sitting in her father’s cross-legged lap while he tried to show her his guitar’s chords. He’s a musician. Her small fingers stumbled and gave up. She was three. His music sheets fascinated her – such strange language that translated into music. Her mother teaches languages, French and English, so her fluency with words fired Louise’s interest. She knew from being small that she wanted to write, to create, to make magic.

She loves all forms of writing. Her short stories have won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting twice for the Bridport Prize and being published in a variety of UK magazines. Her first play, Afloat, was performed at Hull Truck Theatre in 2012. She also wrote a ten-year newspaper column for the Hull Daily Mail about being a parent, garnering love/hate criticism. Her debut novel was a Guardian Readers’ pick for 2015.

She is inspired by life, history, survival and love, and always has a story in her head. Her debut novel, How to be Brave, came from truth – when Louise’s daughter got Type 1 Diabetes she helped her cope by sharing her grandad’s real life sea survival story. Her second novel, The Mountain in my Shoe, will be released in September 2016 and was inspired by her time working with children in the care system.

When she was fifteen Louise bet her mother ten pounds she’d be published by the time she was thirty. She missed this self-set deadline by two months. Her mother is still waiting for the money.

Other Books by Louise Beech

UK-links

One of the first authors to be published by Hera Books, I was thrilled to be given an advance reader copy from the publisher (Hera Books) via Netgalley. With just over one week to go before the release of Alex Khan’s addictive, gripping thriller, released 6th February, here are my thoughts on the book.

Description:

‘Full of glitz and glamour, this is the sexy Bollywood extravaganza you’ve been waiting for. I read it in a day.’ Ayisha Malik – author of Sofia Khan is not Obliged and This Green and Pleasant Land

Zara Das is Bollywood’s hottest property, her every move watched by the eyes of the press. Riding high from the success of a string of blockbusters, she has the world at her feet, but the scandal from her latest film threatens to dethrone her as Bollywood’s reigning queen.

So when superstar director Raj Dillon stages a lavish retelling of Pride and Prejudice, moving the shoot from Mumbai’s soundstages to London, Zara knows this is the role that could put her back on top. Coming with them are the Bollywood Wives – Jackie, Sasha, and Rani – bringing their own off-screen drama.

But behind the diamonds, designer clothes and seven-star hotels lies the truth of how Zara reached the top. And when a dead body is found in her hotel room, it seems that someone is determined to take Zara down – and will stop at nothing to expose her darkest secrets.

Zara has spent years running from her past. But now it’s caught up with her…

A sexy, gripping, scandalous novel set in the world of Bollywood – fans of Jackie Collins, Crazy Rich Asians and Lauren Weisberger won’t be able to put this one down.

Buying links   US: https://amzn.to/2RcloAF     UK https://amzn.to/2MuYQun

What readers are saying:

Praise for Alex Khan writing as Alex Caan:

‘Left me positively breathless’ Angela Marsons, author of Silent Scream and Fatal Promise

‘A chillingly authentic, bang-on-trend thriller’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me and The Party

I was really excited to get a copy of this book. The enticing cover cleverly combines the luxury and sensitivity of its star. Alex Khan’s writing is exceptional. Each delicious character stands out on their own and in particular Zara Das who is so much bigger than the words on the page. She’s a fire cracker, beautiful and extraordinarily intuitive, although her path to stardom hasn’t been an easy one. As with some of the other stars, the sexist culture of the Bollywood industry is a tough pill to swallow. Exploited and passed around like a hot meal, she has emerged as a much sought after delicacy.

There’s nothing about this book I didn’t like. Hennaed hands, traditional ghagra choli outfits, you can ‘see’ the gold brocade and figure hugging clothes and you can ‘smell’ the perfume. Plenty of scandal to keep your motor running. It all makes the book so much more fascinating. With quotes such as ‘And trust me, darling, a Chanel handbag can’t buy you a brain. Or class’ – you get the distinct impression that Zara has not forgotten where she came from, even to the extent that her hard-hitting movies have become a way of getting back at those who have treated her badly. She’s definitely met her match with Dan!

I have a special love for the culture so this book had it all for me. Alex Khan has clearly done extensive research to make this book the bestseller it will be. Thank you to the author, Hera Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read this. Highly recommended!

About the author

Alex Khan has spent his life dreaming of writing and starring in Bollywood movies while travelling the world visiting some of the most glamorous and exciting locations. Moonlighting as a crime writer he finally got the courage to pen the novel he wanted to write all his life – Bollywood Wives taking you into the glamorous, sexy thrilling world of the world’s biggest movie stars and the secrets they hide.

You can find out more about Alex Khan here

 

 

 

 

*Being one of the contributing authors, I have decided to review all stories but mine.* Story 1: A Man Walks out of a Bar by Julie Mayerson Brown I loved the title. An interesting assumption by aut…

Source: TWISTED TALES by various authors – my review no.62