Published by Bloodhound Books on April 15, 2019
Goodreads
Also by this author: Rip Current, The Cornish Retribution, Another Mother, A Stitch in Time, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Dancing in the Rain, Cross Stitch, Summer in Tintagel, Behind the Lie, Another Mother, The Calico Cat, Deep Water, The Cornish Retribution, The Feud, Dark Deception, The Cornish Connection
Matthew Trevelyar leaves his job in London to return to his Cornish roots in the village of St Agnes. After losing his wife to leukaemia, he wants to make a fresh start.
His new life is going well until Matt returns to his cottage to discover a grim warning on his doorstop. The message is clear – Leave now and go back to London.
Not wanting to give up his new life, Matt eventually discovers that there has been a 200-year-old feud between his family, the Trevelyars, and another local family, the Penhallows.
When Matt learns that one of his ancestors burned down a barn belonging to the Penhallows, and that a child died in the fire, he understands why his family name is mud. But why is Matt paying for the sins of his ancestors now? And is there more to the feud than meets the eye?
Today I welcome back one of my favourite authors, Amanda James, with my review of The Feud. Exciting! Be sure to also check out the other bloggers that I am closing the tour with the lovely Amanda @ Ginger Book Geek and Rubina @ Rubina Reads
✮ My Review ✮
This is my fourth outing with Ms James and it is another belter set in Cornwall. I am going there in May, so I am going to be wary of every single person – will be watching you all.
I was not sure where the story was going at one point and it felt like we might be stepping into the supernatural side with witches and feuds, but it instead we stayed with a taut thriller that moved at a thrilling pace. So much happened in a short space of time, I finished this in one and a half sittings (I say half because I was picking it up and down throughout the day surrounded by my little one) it was just so exciting! Plus you just did not know what was going to happen next! All I can say is, I was so happy to be back in crazy town again!
One woman, Morvoren Penhallow, holding a grudge in this little sleepy village of St Agnes, takes up issues with Matt Trevelyar returning, the surname bringing up bad memories for her and she is hell-bent on destroying him. I will admit I suspected so many different endings for this book, I suspected everyone and some of the events were shocking, especially the finale.
What I love about Ms James books, they are believable and I don’t think they are over the top. I could envisage these things could (and do) happen, maybe the police need to be a bit more clued up, but again, who would believe this crazy out of towner with the predicaments he ends up in!
I was sucked into The Feud straight from the get-go, the writing is so fluid you find it so easy to sit back and watch everything unfurrow in front of you. Through the manipulation of one person to the innocent bystanders who all get caught up in the feud the outcome is quite haunting and destructive. Like the other books I have read by Ms James, she spins your head around and around where you suspect everyone and everything and just when you think everything is calm, you get the biggest dizzy spell of them all.
As soon as I see “Amanda James” I don’t bother reading the blurb, all I say is “Yes please!”
Until next time xxx
What has been said on tour so far?
The Bookwormery says
This is an easy read, with some nice twists and a clever plot…I enjoyed the relationship between Matt and Lavender, the doubts and secrets. It shows how perceived hurts can fester over years, all that emotional baggage and hate bring nothing but sadness, loneliness and pain…a very engrossing read….
Bookish Jottings says
Nobody blends menace, suspense, danger and intrigue quite like Amanda James and this talented best-selling author is back with The Feud, a chilling tale of loyalty, secrets and deceptions that gets under your skin and keeps you enthralled until the very last sentence.
(e) book New Reviews says
I really enjoyed the really tense atmosphere James was able to create through this scenario and the book only took me a couple of days to read because I was so sucked in.
What a story! Beautifully crafted and skilfully-plotted, this intriguing novel kept my attention solidly throughout. When I wasn’t actually reading, I was mulling over the events, dreaming about the characters and considering the possibilities of what was going to happen next. The residents of St. Agnes range from being enchanting to nasty and obnoxious making this a substantive and suspenseful read as we follow Matt through various ups and downs and ruminate as to how it’s all going to end. Trust me, the final pages are worth waiting for and, like me, you may well feel as if you’ve had a lively Cornish break, meeting the locals and drinking in the scenery.
Book after Book says
The author craftily mixes various elements to create a story that it is twisty, sinister, and captivating. There is the small town atmosphere full of gossip that spreads quickly. There is a centuries-old feud between two local families that has dramatic consequences. There is a bit of magic, witchcraft, and folklore with the presence of love potion and magic herbs. There is murder and obsession.
Jan’s Book Buzz says
The reader feels the very strong sense of where loyalties lie, and where they’re expected to be aligned. James has created characters with a truly warped sense of loyalty though, who feel absolutely no qualms about twisting and stretching the truth until it’s unrecognisable, in order to convince whoever necessary to remain loyal to them. It’s manipulation at its evil, manic best and the author very cleverly strings everyone along so that they’re dancing to her beat, like merry little puppets!
Thanks to Heather at Bloodhound Books for the tour invite and the author for a copy of the book in return for my honest and unbiased review
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Shalini says
Oooh so excited.. I downloaded this book. Lovely review ? I want to finish my arcs and get to this
Zoé says
Thanks lovely! I love everything she writes. It was a good book x
Hayley at RatherTooFondofBooks says
Fab review! This does sound like such a good read. I think it’s available on my audio book subscription so I’ll download it to listen to soon.
Zoé says
Thanks lovely! Yes try to get it. I love everything she writes. I hate now it’s ages until we see anything again lol
likeherdingcatsblog says
I’m looking forard to this one
Zoé says
Have you managed to pick this up ?x
likeherdingcatsblog says
Not yet. Wi be after May but I have it on NG. I liked Nothung But The Truth