Friday Featured: M

Welcome to Friday Featured. I'm publishing, working from A-Z, a weekly list of authors whose works I think you should check out. Maybe I've read some of their works, maybe I've worked with them on various projects, perhaps their books are on my To-Be-Read pile, or perhaps they are friends of mine who have news that needs to be shared. The only rule here is that it is totally unsolicited. The authors don't know I'm going to feature them, and in that way you'll know that this is simply my honest opinion. If I haven't read their work yet I'll be candid and say so, but at least one book by each of these authors is either on my shelves, or on my Kindle; it might be that I just haven't got to them yet 😊

This week, M: (clicking on the names will take you to the author website; book titles will take you to the books on Amazon)
There's a lot this week, so I'll rattle through them ...

Marie MacPherson  The First Blast of the Trumpet is the first in a trilogy about the famous firebrand John Knox. This book is so much more than that, though, as it not only tells Knox's story but that of his kinswoman, Elisabeth Hepburn, who wants to marry her love, but ends up as a prioress at the time of the Scottish Reformation. I loved this book. It's proper, solid, historical fiction with a cast of rounded characters, great sense of time and place, all backed up with impeccable research which sits lightly on the page, and deftly describes the machinations of the Scottish court during this period. Marie throws just enough Scottish dialect into her dialogue to make the characters come alive. I have the second volume of this trilogy and I can't wait to get stuck into it. 

Sarah Maine  I've had The House Between Tides sitting on my old tablet for a while and had forgotten all about it. I must bump this up the list. "Following the death of her last living relative, Hetty Deveraux leaves London and her strained relationship behind for Muirlan, her ancestral home in Scotland - now in ruins. As Hetty dives headfirst into the repairs, she discovers a shocking secret protected by the house for a hundred years. With only whispered rumours circulating among the local villagers and a handful of leads to guide her, Hetty finds the power of the past is still affecting her present in startling ways." This book was declared Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2018 and with over two hundred reviews, it must be doing something right. I can't wait to read it!

Tess Makovesky  I know Tess in real life and have done for a while but I didn't tell her that I'd bought and read Gravy Train on Kindle. It's not my usual read, being a crime 'caper' novel set in modern-day Birmingham, but it's such a good read. Peppered with all sorts of 'low-life' characters, it follows a stash of money as it passes from one hapless wannabe criminal to the next. There is genuine pathos in some scenes, some genuinely nasty and horrifying characters and then there's Sandra, whose life is all about the ever-so-nearly moments but she needs the help of her creepy 'Uncle' to help her succeed. The author adds some really comedic moments into the story but there are some dark scenes too. I found myself rooting for Sandra and her dreams for a better life...

Amy Maroney  "Renaissance-era artist Mira grows up in a Pyrenees convent believing she is an orphan. When tragedy strikes, Mira learns the devastating truth about her own origins. But will she find the strength to face those who would destroy her? 500 years later, art scholar Zari unearths traces of a mysterious woman named Mira in two 16th-century portraits. Obsessed, Zari tracks Mira through the great cities of Europe to the pilgrim’s route of Camino de Santiago—and is stunned by what she finds. But will her discovery be enough to bring Mira’s story to light?" The Girl From Oto is simply a stunning and delightful read. An original idea, part historical fiction, but with a dual timeline, it's skilfully plotted and it was a joy to read. I gave it five stars in my review.

Milana Marsenich If I were pushed to compile a top ten of books I've read this year, I'm confident that Copper Sky would occupy the top slot (although, the year is only half over, so you never know). On the face of it, this is a bleak tale about the harsh life in an early 20th-Century copper mining town in Montana. Kaly remembers her sister's death, but she also half-remembers that something terrible happened to her that day, too. Kaly wants to make a life her unborn child, while her friend Malika wants to escape the life which has been mapped out for her. Danger lurks, and not just in the daily hazards at the mine. The writing is exquisite, the setting and period feel are spot on and, though the characters' lives are bleak, there is a glimmer of hope running through this tale.

Jennie Marsland  About three or four years ago, before I really got to grips with Social Media, I took up the offer of reading a copy of Flight, the final part of a series. I thoroughly enjoyed this story about Georgie, who meets an ex-aviator from WWI. I found the history of turn-of-the-century Halifax fascinating, and the hopes and dreams of the young folk who lived through the war and dreamed of a brighter future was engaging and well written. Because this was a 'freebie' I read it as a standalone, but I'd recommend starting at the beginning and getting to know the characters. (Each book focuses on a different character, but in terms of time they run chronologically.) Jennie writes with a lightness of touch that makes this easy, yet still at times thought-provoking, reading. 

Kathleen McGurl  I read The Emerald Comb on Kindle, and here's a portion of my 5* review of this dual timeline book which involves a modern-day woman trying to solve the mysteries of the past: The 21stc sections are written in a light, contemporary style, with cultural references that will, in years to come, put them firmly in their time setting. A different voice is used for the earlier time, and this different narration style works well as a device. There's no jarring as we go from old to modern times and the difference in tone eases the switch from one to the other. I was able to read this book quickly without skipping any of it, a testament to Ms McGurl's writing skills, which she makes seem so effortless. The plot is worked out so precisely that not a single detail is wasted - everything matters & all is tied up at the end.

Jean Mead  Every so often, authors set up discounts on the price of their books and I downloaded Hannah while it was on special offer. It's sitting on my Kindle, although I have sneaked a look at the opening pages, and it promises to be a great read: From what I've gathered from the blurb, the year is 1823 when the story begins in the grand mansion, Croxton Hall in Dorset. This is where fifteen-year old Hannah, defying her father, leaves home to become a kitchen maid, and the book goes on to tell a sweeping tale of love, loss and betrayal which sees Hannah finding herself staring at the shadow of the hangman's noose. The story takes the reader from the glorious Dorset Downs to the dripping walls of a filthy prison and beyond. I'm really looking forward to settling down with this one.

Sue Moorcroft  A Summer to Remember was a joy for me to read on Kindle, since it's set in an area of Norfolk with which I'm very familiar. It's the perfect holiday read, beginning with a jilted bridegroom, his brother who had a bit of a thing going with the bride's cousin and now, after being dumped by her boyfriend in the worst way possible, that cousin has come back to the sleepy Norfolk village to lick her wounds. Unfortunately, in so doing, she opens up a lot of old wounds, too. Some of the locals embrace her, some of them hate her for reminding them of the wedding that never was, oh and there's some unfinished business on the romance front... memorable characters, wonderful scenery, and a believable tale of every day life, albeit one laced with drama. Loved it.

Toni Mount I won a paperback copy of this book and what a delight it was to read Medieval Medicine by Toni Mount, a medievalist who really knows her stuff. I'm keeping it on my research shelves because it is packed full of really useful information about medical practice in the middle ages. However, it is also a really accessible read, and Toni has a lovely way with words; some of her asides are very droll indeed. As I said in my review, "everything is here: from the diagnosis, treatments and medical knowledge to the various occupations and titles of those who practised medicine. The notes are detailed and helpful, with sources listed and page numbers given for further reading." Toni has written a number of nonfiction books and also writes a fiction series, medieval thrillers featuring Seb Foxley. 

April Munday I 'met' April on Twitter and I love her blog posts where she explains, among other things, the anatomy of a castle. Beloved Besieged is a great book which is clearly a product of meticulous research. "Limoges 1364 - After Elaine is rescued from a rioting mob by Joscelin, a handsome English pilgrim, neither expects to see the other again. Out of sight proves not to be out of mind, however, nor out of heart. Their unspoken love for one another continues to grow over the years they’re apart. When their paths cross again, Joscelin is a knight in the army laying siege to Elaine’s home. He has to get to her before anyone can harm her… or worse." I liked the way the characters sat firmly within their time period and I felt that in particular, Joscelin's inner struggles made him very much a man of his time. Beautifully researched and written.



And that's it. Gosh, what is it about the letter M that produces such amazing authors? I hope you find your next good read from this list. Join me next time for N-P 😊

12 Things You Didn't Know about John Knox

This month's guest post is by author Marie MacPherson. Over to you, Marie...

John Knox, the controversial Scottish Reformer, is often portrayed as a cartoon Calvinist who hated women and trumpeted fire and brimstone from the pulpit. However, the notorious Scottish Reformer was a complex character whose life reads more like an adventure thriller than a history. And, love him or loathe him, you cannot deny the impact he has had on Scottish history, culture and psyche. Despite that – or because of that – most people know very little about him. In this article I share some of the surprising things I’ve discovered in my research on Knox for my fictional biography.

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1. Roman Catholic Priest – After studying logic, rhetoric and canon law at St Andrews University Knox was ordained a priest in 1536. With not enough parishes for all the priests, he became a Notary Apostolic, a country lawyer.

2. Bodyguard – In the 1540s he fell under the spell of George Wishart, the charismatic Protestant preacher who ‘pulled him from the puddle of papistry’. He dropped everything to follow his master, taking up a two-handed sword to defend him from persecution by Cardinal David Beaton. When Wishart was arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake, Knox went into hiding.

Knox defending Wishart with a sword

3. Galley Slave – After a year in hiding, Knox was called to St Andrews to preach to the Castilians under siege in the castle for assassinating Cardinal Beaton. Knox was arrested and sentenced to toil in the galleys for 19 months – a fate worse than death. He was not expected to survive but the ailments he contracted vexed him for the rest of his life.

4. Church of England Chaplain – Freed from the galleys, Knox became a preacher in the north of England before being called to London as chaplain to Edward VI. He refused promotion in the English church, turning down the vicarage of All Hallows, London, and the bishopric of Rochester.  

5. Political Exile – When Catholic Mary Tudor ascended the throne, Knox fled persecution to Geneva where he became even more Calvinist than Calvin. The Swiss reformer considered his polemical tract The First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women too inflammatory with its call to depose ungodly female monarchs. 

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6. Babe Magnet – The First Blast, denouncing female rule for being contrary to natural and divine law, has forever labelled Knox a rampant misogynist, even though he only voiced what most men of his time believed – that women were inferior creatures and not suited to wielding power – only much more vociferously. In fact, he loved women’s company – as his tender letters to his mother-in-law and correspondent, Anna Locke reveal – and women were drawn to him. Like Billy Graham, he must have had some charisma! 

7. Author and Translator – As well as his History of the Reformation in Scotland and polemical pamphlets, Knox worked briefly with Miles Coverdale on the English translation of the Geneva Bible.

8. Agent Provocateur – With a network of spies that William Cecil, the English spymaster would envy, Knox was often the first in Scotland to find out about important events such as the death of Francis II, Mary Queen of Scots’ first husband, and David Riccio’s murder. However, he was more provocative than secret as an agent. 

9. Husband and Father – Knox was married twice – both times to teenagers. His first wife, Marjory Bowes, who bore him two sons, died at the tragically young age of 25. At the age of fifty, he married 17-year-old Margaret Stewart, a distant relative of Mary Queen of Scots who was furious when she found out about her new in-law. Meg bore him three daughters. 

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10. Marriage Guidance Counsellor – while Knox often clashed with Queen Mary on religious matters – on a more personal level, they joined forces to try and reconcile the queen’s half-sister with her errant husband. But did they have an affair – as one questioner asked at one of my talks. The jury is still out.

11. Social Reformer – Knox co-authored The First Book of Discipline, a manifesto for the Reformed Scottish church, which proposed a school in every parish, a network of ministers and a system of poor relief. He assumed the Kirk would take over the Roman Catholic Church’s revenues, but he did not factor in the greed of the power-hungry lords. Thomas Randolph, the English envoy, considered his democratic vision to be centuries ahead of its time.

12. Parking Lot Burial – At the age of 59, Knox died in his bed surrounded by his family – and not atop a burning pyre as he always feared. He was buried in St Giles’ cemetery, his grave marked by Parking Lot No 23 in the High Street. 

Marie MacPherson 2018

Thank you so much for this insightful post, Marie. You can find out more about Marie's books here at Penmore Press