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Liz Robinson - Editorial Expert
Liz has been an Editorial Expert writing reviews for LoveReading since 2014. Reading has always played a huge part in her life and she can quite happily chat books all day. She previously spent twenty years working as a member of police support staff, including roles as Criminal Intelligence Analyst, Briefing Officer, and Crime Reduction Advisor. She relishes her time spent exploring all genres of fiction and non fiction. She video reviews her selections for the LoveReading LitFest Festival Favourites and is also a Presenter for their events. Liz has previously judged the Romantic Novelists’ Association Goldsboro Romantic Novel of the Year Award, the Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival Short Story Competition, the LoveReading Very Short Story Award, and the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Gold Dagger Award. Her next judging stint sees her joining the CWA Crime Fiction in Translation Award 2023-2025. She describes herself as a reader, a lover of all things books, and can be found on Twitter and Instagram as @LRLizRobinson.
An emotionally astute and provocative speculative romance set in Singapore detailing the connection between a photographer from the 1920’s, and a modern day archivist. Two people separated by decades begin a conversation and fall in love. Author Elaine Chiew’s debut The Heartsick Diaspora contained thought-provoking short stories highlighting what it is to be an expatriate or migrant in different countries around the world. She was born in Malaysia, and has lived in the US, UK, and is now based in Singapore. In the Light Between Us she spins a number of plates with aplomb, focusing on the ... View Full Review
An enchanting, informative, and absolutely fascinating walk with the author through the history and mystery, and the pleasure and pain of gardens. In 2020, just as the first Covid lockdown hit our shores, Olivia Laing bought a beautiful house and neglected garden which she began to restore. I was prepared to fall in love with this book before I even started, however wasn’t expecting the deep depths and extending of thoughts that it offered me. Olivia Laing opens not only her own garden, but also herself and therefore the book begins to feel like a treasured friend as you ... View Full Review
Sending a clarion call out into the world, this crime novel is an absolute humdinger of a read as it throws down a challenge to the reader. Washington Poe needs to tell his story about a murder and an investigation, he needs to explain and reflect, he needs to be heard. This, this is the series I lie in wait for, the stories which began with The Puppet Show featuring Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, have me stalking the book news. Award-winning M.W. Craven is a master at his craft, oh-so eloquent, biting and provocative, yet fully capable of ... View Full Review
An encouraging, thoughtful, and very pretty interactive journal to help with all your budgeting needs over a year. The overall feel is one of friendly reassurance, which encourages you to pick it up, to treat it as a friend rather than a chore. The calming colours in pinks, corals, pale greens and gold are inviting, this will be a pleasure to complete! It is clearly laid out and within are various budgeting tools, from money saving tips, habits to avoid, and saving goals, through to how to use the journal which is helpfully undated, followed by assistance when reviewing and ... View Full Review
An emotionally astute and eloquent tale of love, loss, and family as estranged parents take a road trip across Canada. Oh how I love the way Sarah Leipciger writes, her debut The Mountain Can Wait spoke to my soul, she is able to open your eyes and encourages thoughts to enter uncharted territory. While sparking new feelings, her words are so wonderfully easy to read, they fall into place, seemingly simple yet incredibly powerful. The two main characters in Moon Road haven’t spoken to each other for 19 years, they come together to take a road trip and attempt ... View Full Review
An intelligent, thrilling, firecracker of a read set during presidential elections in the USA and deep-diving into the reasons behind a suicide bombing. Award-winning Abir Mukherjee is one of my go-to authors, his historical crime fiction Wyndham and Banerjee series is one of my favourites. This modern political thriller is as different as can be, but just as well-written and addictive. Sharp, fast-paced chapters are headed by three characters and open windows into the very different lives of a US agent, British father, and disillusioned former member of the US armed forces. The characters feel achingly authentic, it was easy ... View Full Review
A beautifully eloquent and thoroughly modern gothic tale slicing its suspenseful way through the generations of a family and their relationships. After a dreadful accident, Cammy begins to investigate the family curse, that the women in the line lose the one they love. I absolutely adore Keith Stuart’s writing, he is always original and each book feels as different as can be from those that have gone before. Though as I said in my review of LoveReading Star Book, The Frequency of Us: “Each of his novels have been completely different, yet there is a thread of ... View Full Review
A treasure in book form, glistening with songs and shining with folk stories, this inclusive celebration of the seasons is just gorgeous. I absolutely adore the almanacs by Lia Leendertz and have regularly given them as gifts. A Year in Story and Song would make another perfect present for a loved one, or of course yourself. Like the almanacs, it is small with a stunning cover and contains beautiful illustrations. Within is a treasury of song, stories, charms, and folk tellings from the UK and further afield that have kept humanity company through the centuries. These provide a wonderful connecting ... View Full Review
A descriptive and enlightening beginners guide to sound which helps reconnect to and explore the healing and therapy sound can offer. I had heard about sounds baths, and how music can help people with dementia or Alzheimer’s, but I hadn’t ever really stopped to consider further. I stepped into the pages with my mind open, but with no real idea of what to expect. Author Janie Everett welcomes and mentors in a really accessible and friendly way, explaining that you are your own sound healer. She addresses the issues with labels, buzzwords, and expensive solutions, instead ... View Full Review
A wondrous tale of subterfuge, courage, and resolve set among Kings and Queens, war and passion in eleventh century Scotland. The extremely talented Val McDermid is the latest author to step into Polygon’s series of Darkland Tales, celebrating moments in Scottish history or legend with the most entertaining of stories. Shakespeare's Macbeth is not historically accurate so I suggest you leave any thoughts from the play to one side. Queen Macbeth celebrates Gruoch, married to King Macbeth and on the run from men who see her as a pawn in their fight for the throne. In reality little ... View Full Review
Absolutely fascinating, this thoughtfully told and telling book about the ghosts that haunt the British Museum deserves to be read and considered. It is worth noting that author Noah Angell turned down the chance to be partnered with the museum with authorised access to staff in exchange for their editorial control. He spent seven years interviewing former and current employees, some of which requested anonymity. This results in a heart-achingly compassionate yet piercing combination of the author and those he has spoken to. Noah Angell comes from North Carolina and understands that “the telling of ghost stories serves as ... View Full Review
A welcoming, friendly, and positive guide to birding and 50 fabulous birds that can be seen in the UK. Author and wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin, wants everyone to be bitten by the bird bug and feels that birds act as a gateway to the rest of our wildlife. This is such an encouraging book it just had to be a Liz Pick of the Month. I loved the introduction and getting to know him, he tells of moving from Sudan to the UK as a child, and his growing love of wildlife. He also talks about his dyslexia and how he ... View Full Review
