Series: Bella Tyson #1
Published by Audible on September 11 2018
Genres: Thriller
Amazon UK
Also by this author: Murder Ahoy! , Murder on the Menu, The Cornish Village Murder, A Sprinkle of Sabotage (The Nosey Parker Mysteries #3)
Bella Tyson is a famous 40-something crime writer suffering from writer's block ever since a bitter divorce two years before. When a fan offers her the use of an apartment in Venice, Bella jumps at it, hoping a change of scene will have her writing again. Once there, she soon meets Will, a charming Englishman, who shows her around the city.
Enchanted by both Will and her new surroundings, Bella decides to write a supernatural murder mystery and begins researching local legends and the city's more sinister side, including an illicit visit to the island of Poveglia, spooky former home of Venice's asylum. Soon Bella uncovers more than she has bargained for and finds herself enmeshed in a series of gruesome real-life murders that uncannily mirror the legends she is researching.
As she and Will join forces to investigate, real life and local lore merge disconcertingly - for nothing in Venice turns out to be what seems, including Will....
Wow, where do I start with this! This is a different kind of tour and one I loved as it was an audiobook review! I hated having to go to work because I just wanted to sit and listen all day in the car. I was a goner from the opening lines!
I have to say you need to go and buy this audiobook straight away! Deryn Edwards who reads this masterpiece is absolutely fantastic as Bella! I was laughing so much when she was reading. She got Bella, she got her voice to a tee! It was a fantastic pairing, and she does such a great service to Fiona’s book!
Bella, a successful crime writer who is suffering from writer’s block thanks to her slimy ex-husband, whisks herself off to Venice staying in someone’s apartment, all thanks to an email from someone but who is Francesa? Why are people being killed in Venice? And what is with the creepy mask on the book cover!!??!
When listening to the book, it felt more like I was having a conversation with the author by the way it was written. It was so conversational, a bit of casual swearing and berating when Bella is trying to write her novel. I loved the added extras in this book, all the inner monologues were hilarious! There was a lot of voice-overs, that you see on TV where characters are in their own head whilst in a scene, it was brilliantly done and played out. Bella is so real! The way she spoke, well like I say it is like having a conversation like she is telling me her story over a cup of tea or in our case a glass of wine! She hides behind the humour when uncomfortable, swears a lot but she is so down to earth and she does not mince her words!
Will, well he is dashing! In my head, I kept picturing the author Will Dean, I think because of seeing all the photos of “Bloody Scotland” festival, and to be fair he is a bit dashing too. So the whole time that is who I pictured – sidetracked there sorry!
The story, however, is a hard story when you find out why these people are being murdered. It was sad and makes you angry when you realise what is going on and why and my heart went out to one said person. When you get to the reveal, I never saw it coming and people must have thought I was weirder than normal when driving as my jaw was open the whole time, I was gobsmacked and speechless (Yes it happens..sometimes….).
I can honestly say, I was enjoying this audiobook so much I did not sit there trying to figure out who was doing the killings but I went with it, and it added so much more to my enjoyment. Instead of playing detective, I got caught up in Bella and Will and followed the clues. I got to picture the river taxis, the sights, the cafes and take it all in. I want to go to Venice so much more now, it all sounded mesmerising.
Fiona’s writing and Deryn’s voice is an amazing, head blowing combination. Fiona’s words flow, her characters are built, and
Two things, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE, in fact, I DEMAND this be on the big screen, tv series maybe? and two I do so hope that there will be a second book, maybe in New York, especially as the author casually dropped it in on Twitter…. maybe even a character called Zoe who, at my suggestion, dies horribly! Fingers crossed for this!! **Exciting update, it appears Paris Catacombs are being researched, see you later I am off***
I really do not think I have conveyed in my review how much I loved it, but if you listen carefully you may hear me all the way from Dover shouting about it! #Gobuythisaudiobook
*Thank you so much to Anne at Random Things tours, Audible and the author Fiona Leitch for an audible copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review*
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Shohinee Deb says
Amazing review. And now I have to get this book!!
Zoe says
Hope you enjoy it! I am not sure if it is out as a book yet but it is on Audible.
annecater says
Thanks for this fabulous Blog Tour support Zoe x
Zoe says
Thank you for having me! Loved this x
justonemorepaige says
Sounds like such a good one to listen to. I love/hate a good audiobook cause I never want to get out of the car either! Haha
Zoe says
Yes!! I’m with you! This is one of them and I’m currently listening to Sweetpea by C J Skuse and I don’t want to get out the car. I have been laughing so loudly and I really shouldn’t!
slytherinbooklady says
Sounds like a good read
Zoe says
Oh it really so is! The narrator captures the book perfectly
Lauren Becker says
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this one. The MC sounds pretty awesome. 🙂
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Zoe says
Very much so she does a fantastic job!