New Release Announcement and Giveaway!

For days, I've been bursting to tell everyone that on July 30th - only a month's time - my new Psychological Thriller - DARK PLACE TO HIDE - will be launched on Amazon!! 

There will be a full Cover reveal next week, but for now here's a fragment of the cover image to get those goose-pimples quivering... 

To celebrate a new book on the way, I have a bestselling novel to GIVEAWAY on this blog. It's Someone Else's Skin by Sarah Hilary in paperback - and has been shortlisted for this year's Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year.

It's up for grabs HERE (closing date Monday, July 6th):
 

To enter, either:

1. Click to tweet this message: CLICK to TWEET
   

      2. Copy and tweet this one:  

 New Psyche Thriller Dark Place to Hide by @AJWaines Out July 30! #Giveaways to celebrate at www.awaines.blogspot.co.uk

      3. Or Share this post and leave a message to let me know!

Don't forget - more tasters of my new novel and giveaways coming soon...

If you enjoyed this post, PLEASE SHARE it. Thank you! 

Terms & Conditions

(1) Entries must be received by 10pm (GMT) on Monday July 6th 2015. (2) UK residents only (sorry – this is because of legal rules regarding giveaways) and must be over 16. (3)The winner will be chosen at random and informed within 7 days of the closing date. (4) The winner will need to respond within 7 days. (5) The book cannot be exchanged or transferred – no cash alternative (6) The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

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AJ Waines is the author of: The Evil Beneath and Girl on a Train.

•  Both books went to Number One in 'Murder' and 'Psychological Thrillers' in the UK Kindle charts.

•  Girl on a Train also became a Number One Bestseller in the entire Kindle Chart in Australia (2015)

•  Awarded Amazon KDP All-Star Bonus for being a Top 100 most-read Author in UK (2015)

Find AJ Waines at: 
Blog *  Newsletter  *  Website  *  Twitter  * Facebook  *  Pinterest  * Goodreads  * Google+  
 

Subscribe to AJ Waines' Newsletter

Review: The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins
My rating: 5 of 5

Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens. She’s even started to feel like she knows the people who live in one of the houses. ‘Jess and Jason’, she calls them. Their life – as she sees it – is perfect. If only Rachel could be that happy.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough.

Now everything’s changed. Now Rachel has a chance to become a part of the lives she’s only watched from afar.

Now they’ll see; she’s much more than just the girl on the train…

I’d been meaning to read The Girl on the Train for a while – daunted by the fact that it had a similar title to one of my thrillers (Girl on a Train) – which came out the year before, by the way - for those who have asked! I was also aware that the two books were getting mixed up by readers, as you might imagine.

Well – I finally got around to finding out what all the fuss was about – and Paula Hawkins’ book is indeed a stonking good read! In fact, it is an excellent example of a psychological thriller with unreliable and damaged narrators with everyone in the book covering things up, telling lies, pretending, making assumptions and being unable to trust anyone – not even the police officers provide an oasis of safety.

When I consider the actual storyline, it’s relatively straight forward – based around a single crime, but it’s the execution that is key. Paula uses every device known to authors in order to create a book that moves forward faster than the Eurostar and is extremely hard to put down. There are short alternating chapters with drama or conflict of some kind on almost every page. Every scene has something within it that, according to whichever of the three narrators is centre-stage, is unexplained, or confusing or ‘not quite right’, which leaves the reader with a perpetual sense of ‘what’s going on?’

Have you ever used a ‘fitball’ or wobble board at the gym? This book is like being on one of those – you don’t know which way you’re going to be tipped at any moment. There is a relentless tug around who the bad guy is – when all of the characters (apart from Rachel’s flatmate), seem to be plotting, hiding something, sneaking around or behaving shamefully in some way.

Don’t expect a smooth ride to the next stop – there's not a lot of time to admire the view. Not the kind of writing I would always want from a book - but I loved it!

If you enjoyed this post, PLEASE SHARE it. Thank you!

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AJ Waines is the author of: The Evil Beneath and Girl on a Train.

•  Both books went to Number One in 'Murder' and 'Psychological Thrillers' in the UK Kindle charts.

•  Girl on a Train also became a Number One Bestseller in the entire Kindle Chart in Australia (2015)

•  Awarded Amazon KDP All-Star Bonus for being a Top 100 most-read Author in UK (2015)

Find AJ Waines at: 
Blog *  Website  *  Twitter  * Facebook  *  Pinterest  * Goodreads  * Google+  
 

Subscribe to AJ Waines' Newsletter

Exclusive Chat with Jane Isaac!

I was delighted when crime fiction author, Jane Isaac, took 'time out' during the hectic run-up to her book launch to come and chat with me!

Her latest book, Before It’s Too Late, was published only yesterday by Legend Press and has already got great reviews.

About the Author:

Jane Isaac lives with her husband and daughter in rural Northamptonshire, UK where she can often be found trudging over the fields with her Labrador, Bollo. Her first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, was nominated as best mystery in the 'eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013.' The sequel, The Truth Will Out, was selected as a ‘Thriller of the Month – April 2014’ by E-Thriller.com.

Jane was runner up ‘Writers Bureau Writer of the Year 2013’ and her short stories have appeared in several anthologies. When she is not writing, Jane loves to travel and spend time with her family. She believes life should be an adventure.

Here's the Story:

 “I concentrated hard, desperately listening for something familiar, the sound of life. I heard nothing. Just my own breaths and the wind, whistling through branches above… The thought made me shiver. I am buried alive."

Following an argument with her British boyfriend, Chinese student Min Li is abducted whilst walking the dark streets of picturesque Stratford-upon-Avon alone.Trapped in a dark pit, Min is at the mercy of her captor. Detective Inspector Will Jackman is tasked with solving the case and in his search for answers discovers that the truth is buried deeper than he ever expected.

But, as another student vanishes and Min grows ever weaker, time is running out. Can Jackman track down the kidnapper, before it’s too late? 

Now over to Jane:

1. Who is your favourite character in Before it’s Too Late and why? 

I should probably say DI Jackman because he is hopelessly addictive, but I think I’ll plump for DS Davies who assists Jackman with the police investigation. She’s sharp and engaging, but also bubbly and always manages to find the humour in any situation.

2. What alternative title did you consider? 

I’m rubbish with titles. The novel had several working titles but none that I dare share(!) or that really fit. It wasn’t until I had completely finished that the panic set in - I had a huge brainstorming session with my husband and this one cropped up.

3. What's the nicest thing anyone has said about your books?

In a recent review for Before It’s Too Late, Lizlovesbooks said this about me, ‘…for me she represents the very best in emerging UK crime fiction and is definitely one to watch.’ That was pretty special.

4. What do you enjoy most about the writing process?

The research. I know it sounds weird, but I have a real passion for travel and love to get out and visit settings, learn about the local culture and explore new areas. Very little of what I do actually appears in the book though!

5. Which novel do you wish you’d written?

 Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. (I'm with you there, Jane - AJ)

6. Can you list 3 of your favourite reads, this year? 

Normal by Graeme Cameron, Until You’re Mine by Samantha Hayes and Thrilling Cities by Ian Fleming.

7. Describe one hard lesson you’ve learned about writing. 

Not to take rejections and bad reviews to heart. They are just somebody’s opinion, and not everyone will enjoy your work. Although with a new book just out, I might need reminding.

8. What are you working on now? 

I’m working on a new Detective Inspector Jackman novel, so will shortly be back off to Stratford upon Avon for field research – well, that’s what I call it!

9. Which authors would you invite over for dinner to get to know better?

Robyn Davidson, author of Tracks, and Ian Fleming (after reading Thrilling Cities). Yes, I know that Ian is dead, but this is imaginary, right?

10. Which one question would you want to make sure you asked them? 

What’s the most interesting and strangest place you’ve visited in the name of research?

Jane's new book, Before it's Too Late is available here.

Connect with Jane at www.janeisaac.co.uk  Twitter: @JaneIsaacAuthor Facebook: Jane Isaac Author  

 If you enjoyed this post, PLEASE SHARE it. Thank you!

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AJ Waines is the author of: The Evil Beneath and Girl on a Train.

•  Both books went to Number One in 'Murder' and 'Psychological Thrillers' in the UK Kindle charts.

•  Girl on a Train also became a Number One Bestseller in the entire Kindle Chart in Australia (2015)

•  Awarded Amazon KDP All-Star Bonus for being a Top 100 most-read Author in UK (2015)

Find AJ Waines at: 
Blog *  Newsletter  *  Website  *  Twitter  * Facebook  *  Pinterest  * Goodreads  * Google+