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Featured debut author: Debbie Howells - The Bones Of You

63 replies

EmilyMumsnet · 07/07/2015 10:22

Our latest featured debut author is Debbie Howells, with her gripping new thriller, The Bones Of You.

When eighteen-year-old Rosie Anderson disappears, the idyllic village where she lived will never be the same again. Local gardener Kate is struck with guilt. She'd come to know Rosie well, and thought she understood her - perhaps better even than Rosie's own mother.

Kate is convinced the police are missing something. She's certain that someone in the village knows more than they're letting on. As the investigation deepens, so does Kate's obsession with solving the mystery of what happened to Rosie.

This giveaway is now closed, but we're very pleased to offer this 40% off voucher exclusively to Mumsnetters. Scroll to the bottom of the book page to download the voucher, which is valid in WH Smiths until 29 July.

You can also read an exclusive extract of the book here.

Before embarking on her publishing adventure, Debbie worked as a florist in rural Sussex. Check out her top 10 writing and publication tips for aspiring authors here.

This giveaway is sponsored by Pan Macmillan

Featured debut author: Debbie Howells - The Bones Of You
OP posts:
iklboo · 15/07/2015 17:02

Got mine this morning. Lovely surprise. Can't wait to get stuck into it with coffee & biscuits

Hygge · 15/07/2015 17:29

Very excited to receive an email today saying a copy is on the way!

Thank you very much Smile

beatofthedrum · 15/07/2015 17:50

Thanks mumsnet, very pleased!

bettysviolin · 15/07/2015 21:10

Should have arrived today but they sent the wrong book by mistake. The invoice said Debbie Howells but the novel was The Traitor by Jonathan Holt. Will chase them to resend.

Hygge · 16/07/2015 09:24

My copy has arrived, thanks again Smile

FeelingSmurfy · 16/07/2015 12:34

Wow, email Tuesday to say I won a copy and it arrived yesterday! I have just collected it from a neighbour (who kindly took it in for me then had the cheek to go out Wink) and I am taking it to my hospital appointment this afternoon Smile

FeelingSmurfy · 16/07/2015 12:38

coffeeisnectar YES! Lol I have so many (easily 300+) but I can never have too many books, you can keep your shoes and handbags, just give me boooooooooks!!!

Books allow me to escape from my pain and take me to new places when I'm stuck in one room, they allow me to meet new people when I am feeling isolated, they allow me to live in ways not physically possible. They are a lifeline to me

Sheezus · 16/07/2015 20:29

Delighted to receive my parcel today except it's not the right book.

I have the very same book that Bettysviolin was sent.
Did you have any luck chasing it up Betty ?

TheAmyrlin · 17/07/2015 08:15

Thank you so much for the book. Am going on holiday next Saturday, so it's perfect timing. Smile

AnonymousBird · 17/07/2015 09:08

Mine arrived today, thanks very much. It will go on holiday with me in a couple of weeks' time, and I am really looking forward to it.

Peppapissinpig · 17/07/2015 09:44

Received email saying I'd won a copy Smile. Will look forward to reading as soon as back from hols. Thank you!

Doobydoo · 17/07/2015 19:51

I received mine yesterday and have finished it!! Get on with it you lot Smile

321zerobaby · 18/07/2015 17:41

Are you going to post your review here now you have finished it Doobydoo? I am stuck about a third of the way in, finding it a bit depressing.

Cantdothisagain · 18/07/2015 21:13

I've ordered it for my kindle - is it good?

Doobydoo · 20/07/2015 16:23

I could do,I wanted to wait for other people to finish it.I found it reminiscent of Alice Sebold at first and I worked out who the murderer was fairly early on.I enjoyed it....I liked the descriptions of the flowers and nature.I do find it odd though re this connection people have with Horses...not just this book but others! Smile

missorinoco · 20/07/2015 19:50

This is an excellent book. I didn't want to put it down. I found it engrossing, and kept flickering between two people as to who the murderer was.
I thought one aspect was fairly obvious, but won't spoil it, and it didn't ruin the book.

I will look out for the next book by this author - thankyou.

schmelda · 20/07/2015 21:34

Thank you for sending me a copy of The Bones of You. I'm new to MumsNet and this is the only book giveaway I have entered!

The description of the book had me intrigued and I duly got lost in the story. I was hooked from start to finish, and although I figured out the murderer part way through, the full reasoning why and how took longer to unravel. I was frustrated by the lack of development of some characters and some seemingly random side stories that didn't really go anywhere. So not a stand out book that I will be raving about to anyone who will listen, but a enjoyable story all the same. I will look into reading further books by Debbie Howells

coffeeisnectar · 21/07/2015 23:18

I've just finished reading this book and this is my review in my own words.

When a teenage girl goes missing Kate finds herself pulled into the lives of the family of the missing girl. Whilst quite reminiscent of "the lovely bones", it's much darker and explores domestic violence, historic abuse and child abuse although the latter is not sexual but controlling and systematic cruelty. It was incredibly sad but I couldn't stop reading. Kate attempts to befriend jo, the mother of Rosie who is missing but jo is hiding secrets which are hidden behind a facade of perfectionism. Kate is dealing with her own daughter leaving home, hiccups in her own marriage and escapes to her horses while trying to help the fractured family deal with rosies disappearance.

I would definitely read another book by this author, she has a beautiful way of writing which keeps you hooked without being lost in endless descriptive paragraphs which I find off putting. Debbie keeps the descriptive short and relevant and I really felt like I could understand the characters as well as imagine the woodland. The last page moved me to tears.

Groovee · 22/07/2015 10:42

I'm about 1/2 way through at the moment. Intrigued but finding it emotional too x

Groovee · 22/07/2015 14:32

The book is breathtaking and as a parent to a teen daughter I found it very emotive. From early on the jumping between characters from Rosie, the teen who has been murdered, her friend's mother Kate and her sister Delphine. I did correctly guess who was to take Rosie's life. It took me a few days to read as I found myself getting upset but the lure of the book drew me back in to reading it.

The book from start to finish is griping as well as being decent length chapters which hold your attention. If you like crime this would be the book for you.

iklboo · 22/07/2015 15:40

I've enjoyed this book - especially the switching between narratives, which changed the pace. Some of the characters are sketchy, but that may be deliberate by the author. How much notice do we really give to nodding acquaintances & those on the periphery of our lives? It clips along well, not unnecessarily complex or convoluted and I could identify in some ways with the main character. I did guess the killer, but I'm giving nothing away.

Overall, an interesting debut novel. Shows real promise for others to follow. I'm happy to have had the opportunity to have read it.

Sallystyle · 22/07/2015 17:08

Thank you for my book MN.

I really enjoyed it. I loved the style of writing which really reels you in. I guessed early on who the murderer was but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the story.

I sometimes felt Kate was an annoying character and I felt that if we had a little bit more background of her and Rosie's relationship that may have made me understand the deep bond she seemed to have had with Rosie.

I will definitely be reading her next book.

MrFMercury · 23/07/2015 21:22

I really enjoyed this book. I found it very engaging from the off and even though I figured out some plot points quite early I didn't find myself frustratedly waiting for the story to get to that particular reveal.

Lots of very interesting characters and yes I would have enjoyed a bit more context for a couple of the slightly less central figures but I didn't feel there was too much lacking in what I did have.

I'd certainly be interested to read Howells next book. I think she weaves the dramatic and tragic well without becoming over blown and unbelieveable.

magimedi · 24/07/2015 23:08

Got back from holiday & my lovely neighbour had taken in the parcel that was my copy.

Looking forward to starting it tomorrow.

Fridaysbookworm · 25/07/2015 13:36

Thanks very much for my free copy Mumsnet!

I really enjoyed reading this book and found it very easy to get into. Before long, I was totally gripped and very keen to find out who the murderer was.
I thought I had worked out who was responsible fairly early on, but I was wrong - which was great!
The main character did annoy me at times - I felt her thought process was a bit repetitive, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. I read the book in 2 days so it must have been a pretty gripping read!