Hello bookish friends and welcome to day five of #R3COMM3ND3D2020. I am delighted to welcome our first author of the year to the blog today, the fantastic Rachel Sargeant. Rachel has written four brilliant books. The most recent of those is The Roommates, a gripping psychological thriller, which I cannot wait to read. If you would like to find out more, please scroll to the bottom of this post (after you’ve checked out Rachel’s brilliant recommendations, of course!).

So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2020? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors, book bloggers and bookstagrammers to shout about three (yes, *only* three) books they love. They can be written by any author, in any genre and published in any way (traditionally, indie press or self-published). But there is a catch. All three books must have been published in 2020. To make things interesting I have added a couple of teeny, tiny rules this year which are; 1) the book must have first been published in 2020 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. I like to keep you lovely people on your toes. 😉

Let’s find out which three books Rachel has selected…

A Famished Heart (The Vincent Swan Mysteries #1) by Nicola White
Although the unexplained deaths of two middle-aged sisters make for an intriguing plot, this is a character-led novel told from three well-drawn viewpoints: their priest, their sister and the investigating detective. An absorbing slow-burn story, set in the early 1980s but with a modern feel.
Rachel’s Review of A Famished Heart

The Mothers by Sarah J. Naughton
This book is about five yummy mummies who first meet at antenatal classes. As the story progresses and we see something of their home lives over a three-year period, it turns out that maybe they’re not so yummy after all. A dark, sexy, tense, speedy read.
Rachel’s Review of The Mothers

Can You See Her? by S.E. Lynes
Quite a different take on the psychological thriller genre. Not only is it unusual to feature a fifty-something female protagonist, the book differs from the norm in terms of structure and tone. The terrible events of recent weeks are revealed in flashbacks from the main character’s viewpoint and in police interviews with her family and friends. For a dark thriller, it ain’t half funny. But the laughs are bittersweet and eventually fall away to reveal raw emotion and tears.
Rachel’s Review of Can You See Her?

Three absolutely cracking picks, thank you Rachel. All going straight on the terrifying TBR.

If Rachel has managed to tempt you, or if you would like to find out more about the books recommended above, please see the following links:

A Famished Heart by Nicola White
The Mothers by Sarah J. Naughton
Can You See Her? by S.E. Lynes

About The Roommates:
THEY LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE
University is supposed to be the best time of your life. But Imo’s first week is quickly going from bad to worse.

YOU SHARE EVERYTHING
A stalker is watching her flat, following her every move, and Imo suspects that her new roommates are hiding dark secrets…

BUT DO YOU TRUST THEM?
When one of them suddenly disappears, the trauma of Imo’s recent past comes hurtling back to haunt her. And she begins to realise just how little she knows about the people she lives with…

‘Gripping, original and unpredictable’ Alex Lake

“Twisty and unnerving, Rachel is back with a thriller that will keep you up all night. Her best novel yet!’ Phoebe Morgan

‘From the very first page, the intrigue of this page-turning mystery builds until the gripping climax’ Caroline England

| amazon.co.uk | amazon.com | Waterstones | WHSmith | BookDepository | Kobo |

About Rachel Sargeant:
Rachel Sargeant is a psychological thriller writer, published by HarperCollins. Her latest title is The Roommates – dark goings-on during a university freshers’ week. She has been based in Gloucestershire for several years, but previously lived in Lincolnshire, Surrey, Shropshire, Nordrhein-Westfalen and Ceredigion. She likes to feature settings she knows in her writing, but gives them a twist so they are far darker than the real places. Her hobbies are visiting coffee shops, watching amateur dramatics and swimming. She also enjoys walking in the local park and writing in her garden. Her other hobby – reading – has proved a delightful distraction from real-world problems.

Rachel’s Social Media Links:
| Website | Twitter @RachelSargeant3 | Facebook | BookBub |

If you’re a book blogger, bookstagrammer or an author and you have three books published this year which you want to shout about then please complete the following form (or click this link: https://forms.gle/kHTQeQdiUNZTsW4d6)