Mina and the Undead by Amy McCaw COMING SOON 01/04/2021

 

MINA AND THE UNDEAD BY AMY MCCAW

COMING SOON 01/04/2021

BOOKENZ COVER REVEAL

Cover by Becky Chilcot 

Twitter @Alphabeckles

Instagram @BeckyChilcott

Published by uclan publishing @Publishinguclan

Mina is staying with her sister in New Orleans for Fang Fest 1995. She’s thrilled to land a job in a horror movie mansion, reconnecting with her sister while they scare the tourists. When Mina stumbles upon a body at work, she’s dragged into a murder investigation. Someone is replicating New Orleans’ darkest myths, and Mina must discover the truth before she becomes the latest victim.

#MinaAndTheUndead

About the author Amy McCaw

My name is Amy McCaw and I'm a YA author and blogger. I review all genres of YA, with a sprinkling of adult and middle grade titles. I'm particularly drawn to dark, spooky subjects. Some of my favourite recent reads include Harrow Lake, The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker, Good Girls Die First and Wranglestone.

My debut novel, Mina and the Undead, will be published by UCLan in April 2021. The cover and blurbs are coming together and I'm beyond excited to share them!

Mina and the Undead is a YA murder mystery set during a vampire festival in 1995 New Orleans. More details coming soon!

My main interests are books, movies and the macabre. If I'm not reading or attending a book event, you'll probably find me scribbling away in my writing room, surrounded by movie memorabilia and an out-of-control signed books collection. I had a baby earlier this year and I'm loving being a mum!

I also enjoy travelling. I've visited 29 states in the USA and many bookish locations, including the cities where Twilight, Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Diaries were set.

If you want to chat with me about books, 90s movies or anything else you can dream up, you can find me on Twitter or Instagram

@yaundermyskin

GOOD LUCK AMY! I CANT WAIT TO PUT A BOOKENZ ON THIS ONE.

 

Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It was difficult to rate this book 5 stars! Not a criticism in the slightest, but how do you differentiate between enjoying something so dark, twist-filled and gripping, when there is a high probability you may not live to tell the tale.....because of the presence of something far more sinister...Mister Jitters!

I thoroughly enjoyed Harrow Lake. Kats ornate style of writing made me feel like I was back in Derry or Jerusalems Lot! Where people, unfortunately, know each others business and where there is a historic trauma plaguing everyone that no one talks about. Everyone except Lola!

On arrival to Harrow Lake, Lola soon finds she isn't as immune from that plague as she would have hoped and soon learns she's connected to Harrow Lake in more ways than one! It doesn't help that her father is a celebrated filmmaker whose best work was filmed in Harrow Lake aaaand the fact that there is a flesh-eating monster called Mister Jitters who makes the locals disappear!!?

A chilling, dark and twist-filled book that kept me glued throughout and guessing until the end! There were times I am sure I saw Mister Jitters come out of the book to get me but luckily I escaped!.... Can Lola!??? Just make sure when you buy this book that you have the door locked and have carved yourself a jitterbug out of wood!! It may save your life!

I bought this book at Amazon.co.uk. Purchase here Harrow Lake

Follow Kat on Twitter @el_kat

Visit Kats website for more of her incredible work www.katelliswrites.com

BOOKENZ

~

My next stop on the Tour de Kat reading list is...

BLACKFIN SKY

When Sky falls from Blackfin Pier and drowns on her sixteenth birthday, the whole town goes into  mourning - until she shows up three months later like nothing happened. 

Unravelling the mystery of those missing months takes Sky to the burned-out circus in the woods, where whispers of murder and kidnapping begin to reveal the town’s secrets. But Sky’s not the only one digging up the past – the old mime from the circus knows what happened to her, and he has more than one reason for keeping quiet about it.

Good Girls Die First by Kathryn Foxfield

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[No Spoilers]

Imagine for a moment that you have a dark secret and it riddles you with guilt. What if someone knew your deepest darkest trepidation, extorted it and took pleasure exhuming your guilt!? Now imagine how that would look portrayed on a papered invitation?

That is what Ava and her nine teenage acquaintances receive, luring them all to meet at the derelict carnival on Portgrave Pier at the same time! How did you ask? Well, I'm no magician, but each received an invitation personable to them containing the same message, “Eight o’clock, Portgrave Pier. Can you keep a secret?”

All ten so-called “friends” know each other. Some are a distant memory. Some are more welcomed than others. Some are out for themselves. Some are rich. Some are poor. But regardless of their disparities, each has been brought together, but by whom? 

From the very first page, you get that instant feeling of dread, an Alcatrazesque setting. For instance, a mile-long pier, tar-dark waters, an abandoned carnival and stories of ghosts, already the scene is set, and it isn’t going to end well!  

I must admit, throughout this book and like I do with most films of this genre, I put on my Columbo jacket, play Detective Enzo and try to identify who the killer is before I finish it! Then the Author, Kathryn Foxfield turns around, smiles at me and Whispers, “Look in the mirror”, before fading away!... Kathryn?? This book made my jaw drop!!! It was so dark I needed a torch, there were so many twists I nearly fell and the extra elements the teens go through are, well..out of this world!!!!!

This is a well-executed dark thriller that captures each of the characters personalities excellently. You will end up routing for people, shouting at people, gasping at what they do and perhaps shed a tear or two. The level of detail in this book is also out of this world. For instance, the carnival is so vivid, you can smell the popcorn and candy hanging off of the stalls whilst hearing the echoes of the rides fade like a distant memory. 

If you like a dark thriller full of twists that will keep you guessing until the very end then this is the book for you! I could happily read this again right now. 

I have photographic evidence below, that this book in no way shape or form had any supernatural elements between the pages and that the read was a pleasant one where no harm came to me in my daily routine! 

BOOKENZ

Available to buy on Amazon.co.uk. Click here to buy your Kindle version or Paperback

Also available at Waterstones in Paperback

Say hello to Kathryn Foxfield on Twitter @iloveweirdbooks

Visit Kathryns website to learn more about the Young Adult Author at Kathryn Foxfield