The Nightingale’s Castle  – Slovakia, Čachtice If you are in the market for a historical novel with lashings of gothic drama inspired by the real life tale of a woman known as The Blood Countess, then read on. A treat of the highest gothic order is in store. Map of locations in The Nightingale’s Castle   BOARDING PASS INFORMATION Destination : Slovakia Author guide: Sonia Velton Genre: historical fiction Food and drink to accompany: blood oranges #Bookreview @thebooktrailer A novel to transport you to the home of a Blood Countess   Map of locations in The Nightingale’s Castle ..read more

Welcome to Glorious Tuga – Francesca Segal Welcome to Glorious Tuga set in the South Atlantic – Set sail for a tropical paradise where secrets don’t stay hidden for long… So says the blurb so who am I to disagree? This story follows a vet called Charlotte who has taken up a fellowship on the tiny, remote island of Tuga de Oro to study the endangered gold coin tortoises in the jungle interior. What’s more, she is not only there to save the tortoises but to work out a secret of her own. Add to that even more animals and a bit of a human love interest for Charlotte and you’re all set! Map of ..read more

Spoilt Creatures- Amy Twigg Spoilt Creatures set in a Kent sect – Amy Twigg Think a lonely woman – a sect/commune in Kent – all manner of problems…and a way to work out the true meaning of community and what you can call home. Map of locations in Spoilt Creatures BOARDING PASS INFORMATION Destination : Kent Author guide: Amy Twigg Genre: Psychological Food and drink to accompany: only what you’re given #Bookreview @thebooktrailer A novel to transport you to a Kent commune/sect   Map of locations in Spoilt Creatures A novel about a cult is always interesting. They always b ..read more

Birdeye set in the Catskills,NY – Judith Heneghan A quiet, gentle novel this one. It draws you in slowly but surely. Until you are resident at Birdeye and living off grid with the others. Then a stranger comes calling and life at Birdeye will never be the same again. Map of literary locations in Birdeye   BOARDING PASS INFORMATION Destination : Catskills, NY Author guide: Judith Heneghan Genre: fiction Food and drink to accompany: whatever you can forage #Bookreview @thebooktrailer A novel to transport you to the remote Catskills community of Birdeye   Map of literary locations in ..read more

The Safekeep – Yael van der Wouden A novel by a Dutch author that intrigued me. Currently learning Dutch but thankfully this is in English. A novel of two women and a house. A house as a place, a home and an identity. A slow burn that build tension and drama A novel that simmers….until it doesn’t….. Map of locations in The Safekeep BOARDING PASS INFORMATION Destination : Netherlands Author guide: Yael van der Wouden Genre: historical, LGBTQ Food and drink to accompany: Dutch pancakes! #Bookreview @thebooktrailer A novel to transport you to the Netherlands in the 1960s   M ..read more

Best BookTrail of the Month -April  2024 April gave us some very diverse and interesting reads that took us to libraries, islands and the world of puzzles. All brilliant but one stood out….   WINNER!!!! Oh the Maldives…need I say more? The location, the way it was evoked and described and the wonderful way the author transported readers there….. Map of locations in the novel here Review of The Guests here Very pleased she picked the Maldives as I haven’t been there in real life and I haven’t been here in many books either. I love thrillers where paradise turns bad and Nikki does se ..read more

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (CIBD) Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (CIBD) is the day when readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, and others come together to celebrate indie bookstores across Canada. This day happens every year to mark how wonderful books are and to thank the bookshops that get books to readers. Although I am not Canadian, I have some very special memories of bookshops in Canada – mainly Toronto as I first gathered ideas and inspiration for TheBookTrail when sightseeing via bookshops around the city. I became very familiar with the cafes of course, but it’s the b ..read more

Whale Fall –  Elizabeth O’Connor It is 1938 and Manod is a young woman living on a remote island off the coast of Wales. The ominous appearance of a beached whale on the island’s shore, and rumours of submarines circling beneath the waves, have villagers steeling themselves for what’s to come. Then two anthropologists from the mainland arrive and the life of the villagers and of the island itself will never be the same again. Map of locations in Whale Fall BOARDING PASS INFORMATION Destination : Wales Author guide: Elizabeth OConnor Genre: historical fiction Food and drink to a ..read more

Helle and Death – Oskar Jensen Danish-infused cosy crime set in Northumberland. This is just the kind of cosy crime. With hints of Denmark and Northumberland, a country mansion and snow  – what more could you need? Map of literary locations in Helle and Death BOARDING PASS INFORMATION Destination : Northumberland Author guide: Oskar Jensen Genre: cosy crime Food and drink to accompany: something on posh plates #Bookreview @thebooktrailer A novel to transport you to a Northumberland manor house   Map of literary locations in Helle and Death A fun and very different murder mystery se ..read more

St Jordi – the love of books! There’s a very special day in the Spanish literary calendar. A day where you give someone a book! It used to be the case that it was a day of both romance and books so a man would give a woman a rose, and a woman would give a man a book. Quite honestly, I think, as many obviously did, that women weren’t getting the good end of the deal. So, now anyone can give anyone a book or/and a rose. 23rd April is a key date in Spanish literary calendars but also around the world – St George’s Day, World Book Day and Shakespeare’s birthday! Honestly, you HAVE to go to Barce ..read more