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Orenda Books

@orendabooks

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Independent publisher of beautiful, readable, unforgettable books!
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AD PR PRODUCT ⭐️ The Deadly Inheritance of Everest MacDonald by A.J. West⭐️ This is a fab historical theatrical read! Everest MacDonald is called to her dying father’s bedside in 1917 and he asks her to find out the truth behind her uncle’s murder. William Terriss was a star of the West End when he was murdered outside the Adelphi Theatre in 1897. A fellow actor, Richard Prince, was convicted of the murder and sent to Broadmoor, but is there more to the case than meets the eye… Everest is an absolutely amazing main character and I thoroughly enjoyed investigating through her eyes. She is fierce and determined and will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of her uncle’s murder. She felt so ahead of her time. I loved seeing her challenging the expectations of those around her as a woman during World War One. I also enjoyed how real she felt as she has her flaws and her openness to changing her mind. I was so fascinated to learn that the murder at the centre of the novel was a true story and the majority of the characters are real people. I appreciated how the author used this as a jumping-off point to explore so many interesting topics. I wanted to go down a rabbit hole on the case as soon as I finished the book. The novel is made up of chapters from Everest investigating in 1917 and flashbacks through journal entries. I really enjoyed this as I am a massive fan of mixed-media novels. It really kept the suspense and intrigue building and made me want to keep reading. I also enjoyed the use of different fonts for the different sections. This was a fab historical mystery with an added dash of theatricality. I was drawn in by the premise and it did not disappoint. This is perfect for fans of historical fiction and old-school theatre. It will pull you in and leave you with a need to learn more! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ #bookreview #TheDeadlyInheritanceOfEverestMacDonald #review #bookstagram #nibookstagrammer
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During the #spookyseason how about this beautiful song from @carriemartinmusic? She created it to accompany my spooky, witchy, haunting novel #IAmDust, using some of the words I wrote as the theme song for big theatre show in the novel, an apocalyptic show called #Dust. It was electrifying to hear it brought to life, and the song is now on her stunning new album Le Fey. If you haven’t read I Am Dust then this season is perfect with the dark nights and #Halloween approaching. A haunted theatre, a murder, a mystery never solved… what more could you want? @orendabooks @psychotronrecords #halloweenbooks
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📚 THROWBACK THURSDAY 📚 Be More Maeve!! Tonight I thought I’d share another of my very early reviews – this one being the first where I got really creative after, erm, smashing my iPad. ‘Psychopaths Anonymous’ was my first @will_carver and one I’ll never forget in a hurry. Because… Maeve. Anyway, enjoy the review and if you’ve not picked up the book yet, consider this your sign. 📚 This has to be the most violent book I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. That makes me sound a little like a psychopath, but let me explain. Main character Maeve is funny and scary in equal measures. And she’s addicted. To alcohol. And Alcoholic Anonymous meetings. And killing men. Her addiction to these support groups feeds her obsession and supplies her with plenty of (unwilling) men as victims. But she wonders if there are more like her out there. More Psychopaths. And so Psychopaths Anonymous is born. The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments that I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t have been laughing at. It’s a riot. As is Maeve. Her dialogue is sharp, her unheard thoughts even sharper. I’m relieved some of the stuff she said wasn’t uttered aloud. It shows she has (some kind of) moral filter. This is my first Carver read and his writing skills remind me of the great Chuck Palahniuk. Sure, support groups are prominent in Fight Club (strangely enough, the only Palahniuk I haven’t read) but there’s so much energy, wit, originality – and blood – in this tale of a woman fighting her addictions. Maeve is just like everyone else (except for the killing), she wants love and acceptance and she doesn’t like to be crossed. Anyone who does may end up dead. I fully admit to getting to the end of this book and screaming internally “No No No” – as I wanted more. Luckily, some digging around on the internet afterwards eased my tensions and other Carver books have now found their way onto my wish list to help my addiction as a Friend of Maeve. A furious five star read. Darkly funny and NOT for the faint hearted. 📚 There have been quite a few Carver books since ‘Psychopaths Anonymous’ – what's your favourite? #book #review #psychopaths #anonymous #bookstagram
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✨📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖✨ Today is my stop on the book tour for The Deadly Inheritance of Everest MacDonald by A.J. West ✨ I haven’t actually finished this one yet as reading time has been limited but I’m really enjoying it so far! I am so drawn to Everest, such a brilliant character. She’s quirky and really makes me smile! I already know she’s going to be one of those characters who stays with me! This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I love the theatrical setting, the slightly dark superstitious thread that seems to be emerging and how her father’s journal helps us piece together the story and uncover more about the murder. There’s also a feeling of an imminent threat hanging over Everest as she delves deeper, and it keeps me wondering what might happen next. The fact that she’s pursuing the mystery to honour her father adds another layer of depth to her discoveries, seemingly making it about so much more than simply solving a murder. I cannot wait to looking forward to see how it all unfolds, I’m hoping to finish over the weekend, but so far, I’m completely hooked and would definitely recommend it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ll pop another review up once I’ve finished it but can’t see my opinion changing much! @randomthingstours @ajwestauthor @orendabooks #historicalfiction #mystery #adpr #freebookreview #randomthingstours
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🕯️𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘🕯️ 1891. After the death of her parents, Briar Monore finds herself homeless and penniless. She accepts the protection of Lord Danville and takes shelter at Thornby Manor, his brooding Warwickshire estate above a mist-shrouded lake. But Briar soon learns that all is not what it seems at Thornby and it is haunted by whispers of a dead wife, estranged son, madness and long-buried secrets. As floorboards creek, windowpanes rattle, figures appear at windows and things go bump in the night, Briar finds herself fearing for her safety. Darkly atmospheric, menacing and unsettling. Thornby Manor is a gorgeous Gothic debut perfect for this time of year. A tale of grief, madness, mystery, secrets and suspicion, this is one you need to read by a warm fire with a light on. Skillfully and evocatively written, Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes showcases as a new star in Gothic Victoriana with this spellbinding tale. It’s Gothic fiction at its finest; oozing menace as a sense of unease permeates every page. Stephanie had me in her thrall and I devoured the book quickly. I love morally grey characters and this book is filled with them. Even protagonist Briar is someone we can’t be sure we can trust as she alludes to a secret from the start. But she is a great character. Likeable, determined and with a strong sense of justice, she was easy to root for at every step, even if I was intrigued by what she was hiding. Lord Danville on the other hand felt untrustworthy from the start and I had my suspicions about what happened to his wife. Thornby Manor also feels like a character in its own right thanks to the vivid descriptions of the house and its strange occurrences. What was really going on? Were there ghosts haunting its halls? It was so unsettling and the mystery only seemed to deepen as we learned more. I had so many questions and was on the edge of my seat as I waited for answers. A dark, dramatic and disturbing gothic debut, this is perfect for reading on a dark night. Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5 [ᴀᴅ/ᴘʀ]
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Another appreciation post for Essie Fox's 'Catherine' now she's out in paperback! 🪾 @essie_fox_author @orendabooks This Gothic retelling of Wuthering Heights is one of my top reads of the year and I can't think of a better way to bring in spooky season. I might have to give it another read before the year is out 🍂 Reposting my review from the hardback release in February 📚 #paperback #gothic #wutheringheights #bronte #bookreview
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• The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald • Thanks @randomthingstours for including me on the tour for The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald by @ajwestauthor and to @orendabooks for sending me a proof copy of the book.[ad] •synopsis• 1917. As the Great War rages on the continent, Everest Macdonald is summoned to her father’s deathbed and entrusted with a final urgent request: she must uncover the truth behind the murder of her uncle, the celebrated Victorian actor William Terriss, a crime that has haunted her family for twenty years. In 1897, Terriss was stabbed to death outside London’s Adelphi Theatre, a killing that shocked Victorian society. The murderer was swiftly arrested and confined to Broadmoor, the case declared closed. Yet, years later, a sealed package of evidence is passed to Everest by her dying father, which casts doubt on the official verdict and the haste with which it was reached. Drawn back to wartime London, with her husband and children left behind, Everest begins her investigation, following a trail that leads her into the world of late-Victorian theatre, where fame and fortune mask obsession, envy and cruelty. With time running out and her father’s strength failing, Everest must uncover what really happened on the night Terriss died, and shed light on the unsettling legacy he left behind. •review• There were two things that drew me to this book…it’s based on a true story and AJ West of course. Also that I’m a fan of historical fiction and true crime. So honestly this book was already a winner in my eyes before I started reading. I was there every step of the way with Everest as she investigated the 20 year old murder case. Through the articles and memoirs cleverly inserted within the story to the various family members and theatre performers she questioned. Even though a confession had been made and the case had been closed the new evidence Everest had strongly pointed elsewhere. And, when the truth was finally revealed I can admit I did not see it coming…such a brilliant plot twist and satisfying conclusion. #thedeadlyinheritanceofeverestmacdonald #ajwest #historicalfiction #murdermystery
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Hurra! 🎉 Ørjan Karlssons krimroman «Det siste stykket hjem», med engelsk tittel «Into Thin Air», har gått helt til topps i den britiske krimkåringen Petrona Award. I sin begrunnelse trekker juryen særlig frem Karlssons evne til å skildre det nordnorske landskapet og menneskene som lever der, i tillegg til hans evne til å skape troverdige karakterer.    Den femte boken i serien om Jakob Weber, «Den siste du ser», har ligget på bestselgerlisten siden den kom for tre uker siden. 💥   Vi gratulerer! 🙌
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We are pleased to announce that the #PetronaAward26 winner of the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year is INTO THIN AIR by @orjan_nk translated by @scandinavianist and published by @orendabooks https://ravencrimereads.wordpress.com/2026/10/22/petrona-award-2026-best-scandinavian-crime-novel-of-the-year-the-winner-petronaaward26/ @eurocrimefic @ewasherman6 @westwordsreview #books #bookstagramuk #NordicNoir
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It is my turn on the blog tour for ‘The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm’ by @rwrmcdonald and published by @orendabooks ‘The Nancys and the Secret of Tulip Farm’ is an infectious and joyful book that, whilst touching on dark and troubling subjects, is allowed to be as fabulous as the Nancys themselves! This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a stand-alone story, but I THOROUGHLY recommend reading the first one as it is bloody brilliant. And then you will want to do a complete reread of every single Nancy Drew book you own! Tippy is on her school holidays, and her Uncle Pike and his partner Devon are back in town. Are the Nancys getting back together for another run? When there is an explosion in the middle of the night by the town hall, killing two people and injuring another, Tippy is determined to solve the case. Especially when the police say the case is solved! Tippy, Uncle Pike, and Devon are simply a joy to spend time with. I have taken them deep into my heart, and I am desperately wanting to spend more time together. They are like a whirlwind, albeit a rainbow-coloured one that throws glitter everywhere it goes. As much as this book is an enjoyable and entertaining read, it does touch on a lot of serious and sometimes dark subjects. Tippy is still dealing with the death of her father and ends up feeling very alienated from those around her. Her mum is working too much, and since she was also working the night of the explosion, Tippy becomes hyper-aware of not wanting to lose another loved one. She is also missing her friends Sam and Todd, and the Nancys can only team up on her school holidays. She is also having to deal with the thoughts of why someone would commit suicide, or even just harm others like what happened in the explosion. Tippy is having to deal with real-world issues, which is a completed concept for any young girl, let alone in these circumstances. My heart is happy that Tippy exists, but it also bleeds for her pain. It was expertly written by the author. Continues in comments
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ICE, FLOWER, HERBARIUM by Džena Andersone, translated by Žanete Vēvere Pasqualini, Fly on the Wall Press Set in a sleepy, frost-laden Latvian backwater town, the narrative blends Nordic noir tropes with literary fiction. Set in motion when local police chief Vincents discovers a dead body stuffed inside a sack left on the roadside right outside his house, the gruesome discovery triggers a destabilising chain of events, forcing Vincents to investigate the town's mounting number of bizarre cases and the sudden disappearance of a local teacher. As the investigation deepens, Vincents' own precariously balanced personal life begins to crumble alongside the town's web of secrets and collective hypocrisy. His search leads him to Jens, a highly troubled young man trapped under the rigid control of his domineering Aunt Erika. Through Jens' escalating behaviour, the novel delves into a dark, unsettling exploration of inherited trauma, guilt and the devastating psychological impact of raising a child entirely stripped of human touch and affection. ***** No 22 of our October TBR recommendations: links below https://tinyurl.com/Oct2026TBR https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/october-2026-recommended-new-releases-from-independent-presses ***** More International Noir: * Verdigris by Michele Mari, And Other Stories * Kalmann and the Sleeping Mountain by Joachim B. Schmidt, Bitter Lemon Press * Four By Four by Sara Mesa, Peirene Press * Home Before Dark by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, Orenda Books * Horsefly by Mireille Gagné, translated by Pablo Strauss, New Cross Press * Bird in a Cage by Frédéric Dard, Pushkin Vertigo * Ósmann: Ferryman of the North by Joachim B. Schmidt, translated by Jamie Lee Searle, Labyrinth Press #IceFlowerHerbarium #DzenaAndersone #ZaneteVeverePasqualini #FlyOnTheWallPress #TranslatedFiction #PsychologicalThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BookstagramUK #Bookstagram #BookstagramUK #ReadersOfInstagram
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WOULD THE POLICE REALLY DO THAT? 👀 Ever shouted at the television during a crime drama? Or found yourself writing a crime scene and wondering whether the police would actually do what you've written? We've almost fifty years of policing experience between us, and these are the questions we love answering! THIS FRIDAY we're at Pontefract Library! Come and join us for an afternoon talking about real policing, crime fiction, our Jack Dylan and Charley Mann novels, and the stories behind Split Second. Readers, writers, aspiring authors and lovers of crime drama – everyone's welcome. And please bring your questions. We love a good discussion! 📍 Pontefract Library 📅 Friday 23 October 🕜 1.30pm 🎟 Booking via TicketSource – link in our bio/story. Carol & Bob #RCBridgestock #CrimeFiction #CrimeWriters #CrimeReaders #BookstagramUK #Pontefract #WestYorkshire
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