Today we welcome back J.A Baker to my blog, this time we are taking a look at her new book The Cleansing. We also have a guest post too to have a gander at! Be sure to check what Ashley @ (e)book Nerd and Janice @ Glitter and Toast have to say today.
So shall we take a look at the book first?
The Cleansing by J.A. BakerPublished by Bloodhound Books on April 15, 2019
Goodreads
When Ray moves to a new house in the village of Whitchurch, he leaves behind a relationship and a luxury apartment in search of a better life in the countryside.
However, he soon realises that sleepy Whitchurch also has its own fair share of problems. Last year, a woman’s body was discovered in the woods nearby. The killer was never caught.
Soon suspicious things start to happen. Threatening letters are sent, cars are vandalised and headstones are desecrated. But who is responsible for these acts and why?
As the tension in the village builds, Ray begins to feel the pressure. Someone is out to cause trouble and that someone might be closer to Ray than he ever imagined.
Ooh this does sound good! I also have a copy of this to read!
So what has been going on, on tour so far?
The Bookwormery says
I liked the way the book was set out, with the short chapters from the
perpetrators point of view….it builds a sense of unease. Just how much does nurture over nature affect a child….?
There’s lots ofgossip and pondering as to who the perpetrator is, but J.A.Baker’s clever writing keeps you guessing…..right up to agasp inducing end….!
Bookish Jottings says
A first rate thriller that grips like a vice and will shock, terrify and delight aficionados of the genre, The Cleansing is a chilling tale dripping with mystery, menace and mayhem that is packed with nerve shredding suspense, jaw dropping twists and turns and heart-stopping tension.
Nicki’s Book Blog says
A clever plot, a twist (which I love) and then thinking I really should have seen it ( as you do!).
A highly enjoyable read.
The Writing Garnet says
So many sinister and unexplained things happen throughout the book, some minor and some not, and all fingers seem to be pointing at the newcomer. Things aren’t as simple as they seem in ‘The Cleansing’, and I thought that J.A.Baker is extraordinary at creating a nail biting tension which kept me guessing until the very end.
Lost in the Land of Books says
The Cleansing is intriguing, it’s sinister and dark, at times dangerous and well it has more twists than I don’t know what but that’s the charm it keeps you interested and it keeps you reading even if it is into the small hours of the morning. A bit like Pringles once you pop you can’t stop …. well once you start The cleansing you won’t want to stop. In short I loved this book.
✮ Guest Post ✮
I am the first to admit I find holding down a full time job and writing, a difficult juggling act. Time is always against me and I struggle to fit everything in – writing, making sure I don’t neglect my family and friends and of course, housework. That said, I don’t think I could give up the day job. Writing is a solitary business and I enjoy the routine of getting up every day and going out there and meeting people. The contact I have with people helps feed my imagination, keeping my mind ticking over. Without it, I fear my writing would become dry and stilted resulting in 2D characters and poor dialogue.
I am a Teaching Assistant in a primary school so my days are usually pretty full on with no time for taking notes should an idea pop into my head. I write psychological thriller/domestic noir novels which are absolutely nothing to do with my day job…..or so many would think. My qualifications are in education and psychology and I channel an awful lot of that into my stories, using my experience and knowledge of how people think to create most of my characters.
A lot of the staff at work have bought and read my books and are constantly asking when the next one is due out. The most bizarre experience was finding out from a group of pupils that their parents had bought and read my debut novel. Another weird encounter was finding out that one of the classes had used my author page to learn about writers and what sort of people dedicate their time to producing books. I happened to be passing through the room and spotted my profile picture up on the interactive whiteboard. That was a fairly surreal moment. Every now and again, a small child will run up to me in the playground or in the classroom shouting at me that I’m famous. I think I often help challenge their idea of what constitutes famous!
Are any of my books ever set in a school? My third book The Other Mother, centres around a school setting and my second book, Her Dark Retreat, had a character that was a deputy head, so the answer is yes. The old adage ‘write about what you know’ comes into play. Why have all that information to hand and not use it?
Of course the big bonus of working in a school is the holidays. That’s when I do the bulk of my writing. Without them I’m pretty sure none of my books would be out there. I have author friends who also hold down other full time jobs that don’t have such generous holidays and I take my hat off to them. I have no idea how they do it, writing two to three books a years with only four weeks holiday so as much as I like to moan about how difficult it all is, juggling the workload involved with writing and being a TA, I actually have very little to complain about. I love my job and I love writing and the buzz that accompanies finishing the first edit of my next book. All authors dream of being the next Stephen King or Paula Hawkins but the truth is, I enjoy the challenge of working two jobs.
However, I hear you
I love this!! Amazing to get an insight into behind the scenes! So thank you,
Thank you for stopping by <3
Until next time xxx
Thanks to Heather at Bloodhound books for the tour invite and the author for an excerpt from the book.
likeherdingcatsblog says
I’ve had my eye on a few books by JA Baker and they are on my list for when I have space. I did a guest post for her last novel and she is so interesting. And local to me too.
Zoé says
Yes so did I ! I still have them on my kindle to. Read ??♀️ no way!! That’s awesome x
Jenchaos says
She sounds awesome! I should read her books.
Zoé says
I have her books to read so I am looking forward to reading her books