Tina Baker

Set on the Scilly Isles in Tresco, a group of visitors come to the island expecting rest and relaxation but, instead, find themselves embroiled in secrets and even murder!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I was gripped from beginning to end. It’s quite a slow burner so not for those who prefer fast paced, action packed thrillers. There’s a plethora of unlikeable characters and it has plenty of twists and turns. I read it via the Pigeonhole app and eagerly awaited each stave every day - I found it a page turner. The setting sounds idyllic and beautiful - I’ve never been to the Scilly Isles but would love to visit. It’s written with a sense of humour so there are lots of laughs along the way as well as a feeling of intrigue and drama. The suspense builds up gradually and then gallops towards an exciting finish. A rollercoaster of a read!… (meer)

Maria is a cleaner, a good one at that. She looks after elderly Elsie, unhappy Brian and the strange Mr Balogan with complete efficiency, leaving everything sparkling. So efficient she sometimes cleans up other things as well, like the after effects of murder!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s fun, entertaining and a little bit different. It’s written with a great sense of dark humour. I loved Maria, she’s a fantastic character. Life has not been kind to her but she’s finding ways of making it better! 👀There’s also a whole cast of other well drawn characters who add to the overall story. It holds its pace and kept me gripped until the end. I read this via the Pigeonhole app over ten days and I eagerly awaited each stave every day. I will not forget Maria in a hurry! An excellent read.… (meer)

Nobody loves a domestic thriller more than me, especially one set on Christmas eve. I had to just read this book with a lot of positive reviews. I think I am in the minority and just did not like this book at all.

Deb wakes up to a sound in her kitchen and finds a man holding a knife, it's her husband Marc. The story takes place on Christmas eve in the early morning, mainly in the kitchen. With flash backs to how Deb and Marc met and how their life progress from there.

I have to say the flashbacks were all over the place. I didn't know where I was or what was going on half the time. A domestic thriller with everything you can think of thrown in.

I was disappointed in this book which seemed to be a long ramble that went on and on. The idea of the story drew me in especially with Christmas eve just a few days away. I do enjoy a good domestic thriller but this book for me just didn't hit the mark.… (meer)

Call Me Mummy is a fantastic debut from Tina Baker. She doesn't hold back for a minute and there were times when I was cringing at what was happening. It's a very dark read, brutal at times, but no less engrossing for it.

This is ostensibly the story of two women. Mummy is the sort of woman who seems to have it all but she's always wanted a child of her own and it's something that has constantly eluded her. Kim is the opposite, the kind of woman who seems to pop children out left, right and centre and doesn't even seem to like them that much. So when Mummy sees that Kim has turned her back on her daughter, Tonya, whilst out shopping, she seizes the opportunity and takes her.

This is a book that challenges the reader to look beyond the stereotypes. We all know the rubbish the media peddle. Kim is made to look like the worst mother possible and as the story progressed I was glad to be able to get to know her better and understand a bit more about her past. What's really clever is the way the author draws parallels between the two women's lives where you wouldn't think there would be any, and it made for such a thought-provoking read. I really feel that it pushed me to get behind the façade and understand how much a person's upbringing is absolutely key to the person they become.

Call Me Mummy is something of a rollercoaster ride. It's a book that is full of light and shade, the murky side of life, and at times all that's good about it. There might have been occasions when I wanted to look away from the page because what was happening was so horrific and unthinkable, but there were many more times when I was enthralled by what I was reading. The perspective shifts constantly between Mummy, Kim and Tonya (with a few guest appearances from people such as the police liaison officer and the press) and it made for a very fast-paced story. It felt like something quite fresh in style, with brave, no holds barred narratives from the people at the centre of Tonya's disappearance.

Hard-hitting, insightful, disturbing, and brimming with tension and unlikable characters, Call Me Mummy felt like a change from the normal psychological thriller.… (meer)